M*A*S*HCast – Season 2 Mail Call

M*A*S*HCast -  Season 2 Mail Call

Now that Season 2 is completed, Rob reads some Listener Feedback!

Have a question or comment?

Theme music by Johnny Mandel

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That is all!

15 responses to “M*A*S*HCast – Season 2 Mail Call

  1. re: Rapidly sedating drugs.

    You asked if there are medications which can render a patient unconscious within seconds, as seen in TV dramas. The answer is Yes… but with provisos!

    I don’t think of those medications as sedatives or sleeping drugs so much as drugs used to induce general anaesthesia – the kind of injection you might get before a big operation when the anaesthetist asks you to count down from 10… and most people are unconscious before getting to 6!
    Such agents would include drugs such as propofol, sodium thiopentone and ketamine. As a surgical unit, I would expect that the 4077 would definitely have access to those kinds of drugs.

    However, safe use of these drugs should include some pre-oxygenation of the blood (in case there’s any kind of delay in intubating the patient), and monitoring of heart rate & rhythm, blood oxygen levels, blood pressure etc.

    In summary – there *are* drugs that can do the job as seen on TV… but – like so much of TV Medicine – you’ll have to suspend disbelief in terms of how it’s used!

    (Disclaimer – I am not an anaesthesiologist!)

  2. I’m pleased you enjoyed my Crisis pitch. Now we just need to commission a picture of a distraught Hawkeye holding an unconscious Radar paying homage to Crisis on Infinite Earths issue 7.
    As for the pronunciation of my name, you’ve done a fine job of it.
    Matt rhymes with cat…
    Kidding
    Sir and then ois rhymes with voice.

  3. Thanks for including me, Rob! Now I’m really glad I got that comment in before the flight attendants closed the door.

    Put me down for any episode in Season 4 or beyond. Chris and Anj bring actual medical backgrounds to the show, but my only unique trait in comparison to other listeners is deployed time in the military — though never in a MASH, which I think were decommissioned in the nineties. Medics can do more at an aid station now, and military aviation can transport you more quickly to the equivalent of MASH’s 121st Evac Hospital. Consequently, the MASH level of care — which was an ingenious, life-saving innovation at the time — became unnecessary.

    Anyway, that was a rabbit trail. My original point was going to be that I *may* be useful in discussion of people adjusting to COL Sherman T. Potter of the Regular Army, AKA The Green Machine. However, I know I’m an unknown quantity and you have lots of applicants, so no need to respond favorably and no need to respond now. I will love this show, regardless.

    On a related note, your show initiated a rewatch in my house, and so far my favorite season is #7, surprisingly. I caught a few episodes about a year before you started the show and realized that I react very differently to the material now than I did as a kid. That seems predictable in retrospect, but I was surprised at the time. So I don’t think I’ll be sending you any comments on “Abyssinia, Henry.”

    The mail call shows are excellent, by the way, and consequently too short and too infrequent. There’s great discussion in the comments that I (and probably other listeners) would like to hear your thoughts on. So I’m making a motion for mail call episodes at every half-season point. Do I hear a second?

    Finally, Chris, I first became familiar with ketamine in Afghanistan, where Afghan doctors used it induce a coma in a wounded teenager. Our unit’s American medical staff explained to me that it was so powerful that it was often used as a horse tranquilizer in the States. It was used less often in U.S. hospitals, because it was even more dangerous than other common types of anesthesia. The Afghan logistics system did not enjoy the luxury of options. I am grateful to report that the young man recovered.

    1. Hey, Cap!
      Ketamine is mostly used as a veterinary drug in the UK.

      Sadly, in the rural area of the UK where I practice, we’re one of the global hotspots for Ketamine abuse in humans, as it has both pain killing and hallucinogenic effects. It also has some very unpleasant side effects (Google “Ketamine Bladder” if you’re interested – not for the squeamish!) – so your colleagues were quit right: it’s nasty stuff! Just say “No”, kids.

      1. Thanks very much, Chris. It’s reassuring to know that I remembered those details correctly and helpful to learn more. I’m sorry to hear about ketamine abuse in rural England. I think it’s a problem here as well. In your vernacular, I shan’t be Googling ketamine bladder. I need no further motivation to heed my colleagues’ warning and yours.

  4. Congratulations on finishing Season 2! You and your platoon of excellent co-hosts brought a lot of fresh insights to episodes that I’ve watched more times than I can count. I’m already hunkered down in my foxhole waiting for your coverage of Season 3 to begin.

  5. Thank you for reading my comment on the Dear Dad III episode. Made me feel special.

    I had a couple medical procedures last year that required anesthesia. Both times I was out within seconds of them releasing the drugs. That was the quickest I have ever been put under.

    But that was an IV going right into my bloodstream in 2018. Not with a needle going into my butt in 1951.

  6. This was a good overview of how infrequently I comment – obviously I need to do it more! I started listening a year ago because I had wanted to do an episode-by-episode podcast about MASH. When I heard yours, I knew there was no way I could do it better. Now I simply enjoy listening to one of the best podcasts out there about the greatest show there ever was. You’ve lead me to other terrific podcasts (Mash Matters and Amanda Reyes’ Made for TV Mayhem) and re-ignited my interest in MASH. I started a re-watch of the series while recovering from surgery this year and just finished it a few days ago – it had become my morning routine. I look forward to your next season (I do hope you have Amanda back!) and I’ll try to send in something on Abyssinia, Henry. It’s not just a great episode, but a great example of what makes this show work so well. Kudos to you for two great seasons!!!

  7. Congrats on season 2, Rob! It’s been so great that you started this show, and I’ve enjoyed the heck out of it. Thank you for sharing it with us.

    I might have something to say about “Abyssinia, Henry.” I’ll do my best to remember to do that.

    And apologies for jumping the gun on “volunteering” for season 3, and for giving you a whopping 5 suggestions. I didn’t want to miss out again.

    See you next season! That is all.

  8. The latest episode of the MASH Matters podcast is up and it is a review of Season 3. With S3 about to kick off here, listening to their podcast is a good way to get ready for it.

    I apologize for plugging another podcast here and feel free to delete this. (I have no connection to it). But it is very well done and an enjoyable listen for those who love MASH.

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