Back in 1893 George Oliver a Yorkshire Phusician had the gadgets to measure the diameter of arteries in sheep his study was to take some Adrenal extract (from the Adrenal Glands just above the Kidneys ) and inject it into the sheep’s arteries. The arteries diameter decreased dramatically hence able to increase the Blood pressure of circulating blood. He then decide to try the same test on his son !!!

Fast forward …..adrenaline extracted form the adrenal glands now saves millions of lives every year. An amazing benefit to us all.

Prof Barbezat then related some personal health issues he had a flu like illness which became acute…Blood cultures taken….revealed Streptococcus Bacteria from a tooth infection Treatmant was IV antibiotics given continuously for 6 weeks. Still not making a great improvement…. Angiogram revealed some of the bacteria settled on the heart Valves …Open Heart Surgery to replace valves involved. Now well.

Past verses present in comparison.

Pre antibiotic era …. All over Rover as life not sustainable against the infection.

Antibiotic Era Infection would have still won with constant I V Line changes into small veins ruining the vein walls rendering them useless and blocked.

Now they use a PICC line which is a long thin catheter surgically inserted via a small peripheral vein into a major upper chest vein above the heart and stays in place without need to change allowing 24hr antibiotic infusion with a weaker solution that didn’t harm the blood vessel.

Prof Barbezat’personal research was related to Peptic Ulcers.

In earlier times the management of a 29 year old carpenter who had recurrent haematemisis (spewing Blood ) was to apply 20 leeches to the stomach wall to suck out the blood then numerous other crazy potions applied to the anus, plus horrible diets which were very bland ie rice and quince syrup

Moving forward 50 years and a lot of research.

Antacids were perscribed but these just dried up your mouth and mad it very hard to pass urine and the ulcer would reappear the moment you stopped taking the drugs…. Fast forward …after failed medical treatments Introduction of Surgical removal of large pieces of affected bowel and by passes still had the recurrence of Ulcers and lots of side effects following the surgery.

Fast forward … Then came the endoscope via which small samples of the stomach wall lead to a more accurate diagnosis. Treatment was instigated then followup endoscopies to gauge the effect of treatment.

Fast forward….. Two Australian Physicians discovered the little balck spots which linked to stomach infection and was called Helicobacter Pylori or H Pylori Eradication of these cured the ulcer. Sadly this was discovered in 1982 but the medical profession were very sceptical !

This research finally won a Noble Peace Prize in 2005.

Still lots to discover and good ideas need good support.

Prof Barbezat a Rugby enthusiast says Ripper Rugby ultimately produces Great All Blacks. He likens his research to the Ripper Rugby of Research.