diogenes in print: I was browsing The Chemist and... - Thyroid UK

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diogenes in print

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator
19 Replies

I was browsing The Chemist and Druggist from 3rd August 1985 and on page 214 happened across the photo and the text as above/below. For anyone who does not know, "our" diogenes is none other than Dr John Midgley:

Amersham International scientists Dr John Midgeley and Dr Terry Wilkins have won the 1985 Prince of Wales award for industrial innovation. The result was announced on BBC's Tommorrow's World recently. The two scientists devised a more accurate method of measuring the level of thyroid hormones in the blood.

[Yes - they could not spell Tomorrow! Nor Midgley.]

diogenes

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helvella profile image
helvella
Administrator
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19 Replies
radd profile image
radd

Hey, nice to be able to put a face to that person who contributes so much. I'll just have to imagine it 35 years later.

ps 🤔 do people really just go browsing 35 year old editions of The Chemist and Druggist! You know you never fail to impress me Helvella 😄

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply toradd

You don't have to imagine what diogenes currently looks like or even what he sounds like - you can find him discussing thyroid treatment in this video. :)

youtube.com/watch?v=y99UDJI...

radd profile image
radd in reply tohumanbean

Thank you hb.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toradd

Yes - they do!

You too can join in - I have collected much relevant to thyroid patients and posted here:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

radd profile image
radd in reply tohelvella

1859!! ... 🧐 ... must be dem mushrooms.

😁😘

Levo50 profile image
Levo50

This is so 😎

jsy_girl profile image
jsy_girl

Ahhh this explains a lot! Amazing.

Ernest2 profile image
Ernest2

Happy Days!

You must win this year's dedication award for your browsing efforts.

Many thanks for all that you do and share.

Ernest

DippyDame profile image
DippyDame

This underlines how hugely fortunate we are to have our diogenes on board..... but we all know that already!

Thank you helvella for all you do for us.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toDippyDame

Fully agreed.

In my view, the failure of thyroid medicine, which we see reported all too often, emphasises the need for the scientists, the medical practitioners, and the patients to actually have the interaction diogenes (both in person, and with the help the rest of his colleagues) provides here.

Interaction between patients and consultants is particularly unhappy. Yet it is beyond clear that even endocrinologists know that there are problems which need to be addressed.

DippyDame profile image
DippyDame in reply tohelvella

I get a sense from reading daily posts that things are getting worse for thyroid patients....if that is possible.

The medics must listen to the scientists, otherwise, for the foreseeable future, all we can do is dream.

It feels like a travesty of justice!

It seems that nobody has the clout (or the will) to instigate reform.....yet the facts necessitating reform are clear.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toDippyDame

Much of the interaction between patients and doctors takes places in consultations - which are inappropriate for wider discussions. And, all too often, deeply disappointing to the patients.

(Mind, some of the doctors might also be very disappointed. Some, at least, understand things are bad and need to be changed.)

But how can patients have a wide ranging, deep, and thoughtful discussion with doctors? One where anger on both sides is kept in check. And the best of the science is presented and appreciated.

LindaC profile image
LindaC in reply tohelvella

💚🎶☘️ - Totally!

diogenes profile image
diogenesRemembering

Hmm. I looked like a Mafioso then because I wore Reactolite Spctacles which of course reacted as soon as we came outside from Highgrove.This year of 85 was a very large curate's egg. The honour of receiving the prize was accompanied by falling foul of our management's determination to test a new diagnostic system before it was ready, I remember with some horror the task of taking unsuitable instruments to clinical triallists, and hearing of both instrumental failure to produce anything worthwhile or even bursting into flames. It injured my reputation as well as the company's and I left fairly soon after, no longer believing in the company I worked for, with its new, ignorant but arrogant management expecting impossible things by impossible dates.

LindaC profile image
LindaC in reply todiogenes

Nice pic! Were those the mid-1980s immunometric assay [technique] tests?

diogenes profile image
diogenesRemembering in reply toLindaC

They were!

LindaC profile image
LindaC in reply todiogenes

Recently included in 'a piece of work' stating, that the older 1960's (Robert? Utiger et al?) tests were superceded by the immunometric assay technique, but STILL where clinical judgement is required.

NieuwOndaatje profile image
NieuwOndaatje

Thank you, Helvella. So much more Thyroid related logic and patient sense from Diogenes than I've read anywhere else over many years of searching for answers and now, finally, it all makes perfect sense! And also a great insight into the realms that our Administrators go in their search for more knowledge. It's thirsty work for sure and I first wondered whether stumbling across "The Chemist and Druggist" might have been a welcome rest at a local establishment licensed to serve ales and other beverages, wines and spirits!

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toNieuwOndaatje

There's a number of cafes, restaurants and pubs around called something like that! Including one in Zagreb, Croatia. I'll have to try to find one that is considerably closer. :-)

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