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CD-ROM: Poisonous plants in Britain and Ireland
Book Reviews CD-ROM: Poisonous Britain and Ireland
plants
in
Poisons Unit, Guyk 6 St Thornas’ Hospitn2 Eust and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew HMSO Electronic Publishing, Annual Subscription Ll.50 excluding VA?; code 7003280
This CD-ROM is produced by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and the Poisons Unit at Guys & St. Thomas’ Hospital. It has been marketed at the medical professional to help in accurately identifying poisonous plants. It contains information on about 2 000 plants found in and around the home, garden, street and in countryside. It is important to note that it does not contain every plant that grows in the UK, only the most poisonous and those that were considered as often ingested. The cost of subscription is Al50 per annum and copyright is protected by a system of codes for which one has to telephone the suppliers. To run the program one requires an IBM compatible computer with a minimum of 386 processor, 4 megabytes of RAM (preferably 8 MB), a hard disk with at least 150 KB free, a minimum of MS DOS 3.3, Windows 3.1 or 3.11 (it seems to work OK with Win 95), integral double speed CD-ROM or faster and a 256 colour monitor. Installation is easy, but be prepared to make a telephone call half way through to the manufacturers’ help desk to obtain your unique response code. Once you’ve got this you’re away. The program is interactive and requires the user to answer various questions about the plant, flower, seed, fruit or root. The alternative answers to each question are displayed in boxes on the screen. You click your mouse on the appropriate box/answer, then another question comes up. There is no need to type, which seems a benefit for those with limited experience of computers. You can ignore the question if you do not know the answer. Examples of questions are ‘Where was the plant growing’?, ‘What is the colour of the flower?‘, ‘Does the fruit have a depression at the apex?’ and ‘If flowering, which month is it?’ These were simple questions. However, other questions were more difficult to answer by non-botanists (i.e. most staff in A & E). Some of the complex questions were ‘How many sepals does the flower have?‘, ‘Is the leaf simple or comphcated?‘, ‘Is the seed keeled or ridged?‘, ‘Is the pattern of leaf veins pinnate?’ and ‘Is the flower aroid?’ Few A & E staff recognized these terms. Each answer box has the same cartoon picture 4ccrdent and Emergency Nursing
( 1997) 5, I72- I75 0 Pearson Professional I997
of a ‘daisy’. It is a pity these cartoons did not clarify the answer they represented. There is a help facility which has a Glossary of terms, Latin names, common names and bibliography but it does not help with many of these terms; indeed, some of the explanations leave one even more confused. The response to each question allows the program to reduce the number of plants on its list of possible suspects. Once this list is down to less than five, the program prompts you with the option of looking at the list. You can continue with more questions to further home-in on ‘your’ plant. You can view various colour photographs of the plants. For a plant called example, when I viewed anthurium, also known as flamingo flower, its Latin and common names were displayed alongside a photograph of it and by clicking various boxes, I was able to zoom in on the image, look at various other pictures of the plant, including close-ups of the leaf, flower, variation in leaf shape and compare upper and lower leaves (five photographs in total). I was also able to obtain a concise description of the plant and find out its toxicity; in the case of this plant it was toxic by mouth, irritant to the skin and caused pain and photophobia to the eye. It does not give treatments, but in all cases recommends contacting the poisons centre in London, giving its telephone number. The manufacturers clearly state that this is only a guide and the content should not be relied upon for diagnostic purposes. The user takes full responsibility for the application of information derived from this CD-ROM. Initial testing with the leaves of primroses, pansies, orchids and geraniums proved to be unsuccessful. They were not recognized and incorrect results were given. Consultation with the Kew Gardens team identified that these common plants were not on their disc. Subsequent testing with yew, ivy, primula and laburnum was successful. The program assists in identifying poisonous plants. However, it does not include information on many non-poisonous plants. So, it is by default that one presumes a plant which is not recognized is non-poisonous. It would be better if the system explicitly recognized nonpoisonous plants, told you what they were and that it was OK not to worry. Far better to tell anxious Mrs Smith that little Johny has just eaten red currants and not to worry, than to say, ‘Sorry we don’t know what they are, but as they are not in the system they are probably (!) not harmful.’
Book Reviews I73
I would suggest a few developments, for example, using cartoons to explain the differences between difficult terms, such as number of sepals, complex vs simple leaves, pinnate patterns, aroid heads etc, and including a greater variety of plants so that reassurance can be given explicitly rather than by hopeful assumption. The basic concept of this system is very good, the clear photographs are excellent, the installation is straightforward as is the way in which one is guided through the differentiating questions, and the user needs minimal computer skills. At present, the system is of some although limited use in a busy A & E department. With improvements, it is felt that this product could be of great use in a medical setting. This type of product could also be of interest in the identifying of other things, such as tablets or rashes. Sarah Bright, Accident and Emergency Department, John Radcl@ Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford, UK
Texas Heart Institute’s Owners Handbook
Heart
John Wiley 6 Sons 1996, ISBN 0471 04420 2, 396pp, LIZ.99 From the title, the Texas Heavt Institute’s Heart Owners Handbook, the reader would expect to find that the book is full of facts and information: it is. Texas is the origin of the big beefsteaks and burgers. Ironically, these burgers must be a major cause for an American to buy such a reference book. The book is directed 100% at the American health care system and population. The section that informs the patient on how to choose and work with your doctor, reflects at the most fundamental level, the patient/doctor interaction, common in the States. All references to medical aid, diets and coronary care are underpinned by statistics collated from the diverse American population. The content is comprehensive, informative and interesting. An easy read, but there is one major drawback: this book will only appeal to Americans who have had a myocardial infarction or are worried that they may have one soon. Those that have embarked upon a period of rehabilitation and lifestyle change will use this book as a Bible. The fact that all the health care agencies, coronary support groups, statistics and research is finely focused for the American reader, makes this book unsuitable for the UK. The analogy I draw here is that both UK and the USA use money, but I could not spend a dollar bill in the UK. This book is interesting and
informative but should stay ‘State Side’ where it was intended for. A. Tluwgood RGN) ENI: Senior Staff Nurse, Accident and EmergencyDepartment, City Hospital NHS lkst, Dudley Road, Birmingham, UK.
No chance
to say goodbye
Concord Video and Film Council Ltd. Written support material for teachers/facilitator is included. Distribution Tel: 0171 373 1832; Fax: 0171 373 8116. Running time 37 min. L40 (48-hour hire ~15.00). I have found it very difficult to find the right video to use in training our staff to work with sudden death. Often, they are not focused well enough on the issues around the impact. No chance to say goodbye is an excellent resource for training A & E staff. Four participants who have suffered the loss of a close relative through road traffic accident, murder, suicide and sudden illness share their experiences. The video also examines the concept of post-traumatic stress disorder and touches upon breaking bad news and the impact of the coroner and police on these traumatic events. The commentary is provided by three people: Colin Murray-Parkes, an A & E consultant and a Police Detective Chief Superintendent. They provide the viewer with some understanding of the complexities of these cases. The strength of the video lies with the opportunities for insight found in the first person narratives. These provide good stimulation for teaching sessions and for encouraging student discussion and participation. Experienced A & E staff can use the opportunity to re-evaluate their immediate care and the way this impacts on the whole process. Bob Wright, Clinical Nuvre Specialist, Cvirb Care, Leeds General Infirmary, UK
Integrating
perspectives
on health
N Cooper, C Stevenson, G Hale Open University 1996. ISBN 0 335 19356 0, 182pp, Ll2.99 This is a well-written academic publication. It is, however, of questionable appeal to the everyday practising nurse. As specified in its summary, this book may benefit nurses undertaking study, and I would suggest post-registration study, as experience of nursing is essential to understand many of the arguments. The book critiques the value of biological, psychological and social approaches to nursing education and ultimately nursing practice. It also
plants
in
Poisons Unit, Guyk 6 St Thornas’ Hospitn2 Eust and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew HMSO Electronic Publishing, Annual Subscription Ll.50 excluding VA?; code 7003280
This CD-ROM is produced by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and the Poisons Unit at Guys & St. Thomas’ Hospital. It has been marketed at the medical professional to help in accurately identifying poisonous plants. It contains information on about 2 000 plants found in and around the home, garden, street and in countryside. It is important to note that it does not contain every plant that grows in the UK, only the most poisonous and those that were considered as often ingested. The cost of subscription is Al50 per annum and copyright is protected by a system of codes for which one has to telephone the suppliers. To run the program one requires an IBM compatible computer with a minimum of 386 processor, 4 megabytes of RAM (preferably 8 MB), a hard disk with at least 150 KB free, a minimum of MS DOS 3.3, Windows 3.1 or 3.11 (it seems to work OK with Win 95), integral double speed CD-ROM or faster and a 256 colour monitor. Installation is easy, but be prepared to make a telephone call half way through to the manufacturers’ help desk to obtain your unique response code. Once you’ve got this you’re away. The program is interactive and requires the user to answer various questions about the plant, flower, seed, fruit or root. The alternative answers to each question are displayed in boxes on the screen. You click your mouse on the appropriate box/answer, then another question comes up. There is no need to type, which seems a benefit for those with limited experience of computers. You can ignore the question if you do not know the answer. Examples of questions are ‘Where was the plant growing’?, ‘What is the colour of the flower?‘, ‘Does the fruit have a depression at the apex?’ and ‘If flowering, which month is it?’ These were simple questions. However, other questions were more difficult to answer by non-botanists (i.e. most staff in A & E). Some of the complex questions were ‘How many sepals does the flower have?‘, ‘Is the leaf simple or comphcated?‘, ‘Is the seed keeled or ridged?‘, ‘Is the pattern of leaf veins pinnate?’ and ‘Is the flower aroid?’ Few A & E staff recognized these terms. Each answer box has the same cartoon picture 4ccrdent and Emergency Nursing
( 1997) 5, I72- I75 0 Pearson Professional I997
of a ‘daisy’. It is a pity these cartoons did not clarify the answer they represented. There is a help facility which has a Glossary of terms, Latin names, common names and bibliography but it does not help with many of these terms; indeed, some of the explanations leave one even more confused. The response to each question allows the program to reduce the number of plants on its list of possible suspects. Once this list is down to less than five, the program prompts you with the option of looking at the list. You can continue with more questions to further home-in on ‘your’ plant. You can view various colour photographs of the plants. For a plant called example, when I viewed anthurium, also known as flamingo flower, its Latin and common names were displayed alongside a photograph of it and by clicking various boxes, I was able to zoom in on the image, look at various other pictures of the plant, including close-ups of the leaf, flower, variation in leaf shape and compare upper and lower leaves (five photographs in total). I was also able to obtain a concise description of the plant and find out its toxicity; in the case of this plant it was toxic by mouth, irritant to the skin and caused pain and photophobia to the eye. It does not give treatments, but in all cases recommends contacting the poisons centre in London, giving its telephone number. The manufacturers clearly state that this is only a guide and the content should not be relied upon for diagnostic purposes. The user takes full responsibility for the application of information derived from this CD-ROM. Initial testing with the leaves of primroses, pansies, orchids and geraniums proved to be unsuccessful. They were not recognized and incorrect results were given. Consultation with the Kew Gardens team identified that these common plants were not on their disc. Subsequent testing with yew, ivy, primula and laburnum was successful. The program assists in identifying poisonous plants. However, it does not include information on many non-poisonous plants. So, it is by default that one presumes a plant which is not recognized is non-poisonous. It would be better if the system explicitly recognized nonpoisonous plants, told you what they were and that it was OK not to worry. Far better to tell anxious Mrs Smith that little Johny has just eaten red currants and not to worry, than to say, ‘Sorry we don’t know what they are, but as they are not in the system they are probably (!) not harmful.’
Book Reviews I73
I would suggest a few developments, for example, using cartoons to explain the differences between difficult terms, such as number of sepals, complex vs simple leaves, pinnate patterns, aroid heads etc, and including a greater variety of plants so that reassurance can be given explicitly rather than by hopeful assumption. The basic concept of this system is very good, the clear photographs are excellent, the installation is straightforward as is the way in which one is guided through the differentiating questions, and the user needs minimal computer skills. At present, the system is of some although limited use in a busy A & E department. With improvements, it is felt that this product could be of great use in a medical setting. This type of product could also be of interest in the identifying of other things, such as tablets or rashes. Sarah Bright, Accident and Emergency Department, John Radcl@ Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford, UK
Texas Heart Institute’s Owners Handbook
Heart
John Wiley 6 Sons 1996, ISBN 0471 04420 2, 396pp, LIZ.99 From the title, the Texas Heavt Institute’s Heart Owners Handbook, the reader would expect to find that the book is full of facts and information: it is. Texas is the origin of the big beefsteaks and burgers. Ironically, these burgers must be a major cause for an American to buy such a reference book. The book is directed 100% at the American health care system and population. The section that informs the patient on how to choose and work with your doctor, reflects at the most fundamental level, the patient/doctor interaction, common in the States. All references to medical aid, diets and coronary care are underpinned by statistics collated from the diverse American population. The content is comprehensive, informative and interesting. An easy read, but there is one major drawback: this book will only appeal to Americans who have had a myocardial infarction or are worried that they may have one soon. Those that have embarked upon a period of rehabilitation and lifestyle change will use this book as a Bible. The fact that all the health care agencies, coronary support groups, statistics and research is finely focused for the American reader, makes this book unsuitable for the UK. The analogy I draw here is that both UK and the USA use money, but I could not spend a dollar bill in the UK. This book is interesting and
informative but should stay ‘State Side’ where it was intended for. A. Tluwgood RGN) ENI: Senior Staff Nurse, Accident and EmergencyDepartment, City Hospital NHS lkst, Dudley Road, Birmingham, UK.
No chance
to say goodbye
Concord Video and Film Council Ltd. Written support material for teachers/facilitator is included. Distribution Tel: 0171 373 1832; Fax: 0171 373 8116. Running time 37 min. L40 (48-hour hire ~15.00). I have found it very difficult to find the right video to use in training our staff to work with sudden death. Often, they are not focused well enough on the issues around the impact. No chance to say goodbye is an excellent resource for training A & E staff. Four participants who have suffered the loss of a close relative through road traffic accident, murder, suicide and sudden illness share their experiences. The video also examines the concept of post-traumatic stress disorder and touches upon breaking bad news and the impact of the coroner and police on these traumatic events. The commentary is provided by three people: Colin Murray-Parkes, an A & E consultant and a Police Detective Chief Superintendent. They provide the viewer with some understanding of the complexities of these cases. The strength of the video lies with the opportunities for insight found in the first person narratives. These provide good stimulation for teaching sessions and for encouraging student discussion and participation. Experienced A & E staff can use the opportunity to re-evaluate their immediate care and the way this impacts on the whole process. Bob Wright, Clinical Nuvre Specialist, Cvirb Care, Leeds General Infirmary, UK
Integrating
perspectives
on health
N Cooper, C Stevenson, G Hale Open University 1996. ISBN 0 335 19356 0, 182pp, Ll2.99 This is a well-written academic publication. It is, however, of questionable appeal to the everyday practising nurse. As specified in its summary, this book may benefit nurses undertaking study, and I would suggest post-registration study, as experience of nursing is essential to understand many of the arguments. The book critiques the value of biological, psychological and social approaches to nursing education and ultimately nursing practice. It also