STIFF

Vanessa gave me the book, Stiff, for Christmas. It describes what happens to the human body when it dies, how it decomposes and so far how the medical community deals with cadavers that are donated for scientific research.

One chapter describes a plastic surgery seminar where a number of human heads from cadavers have been placed each on their own table in a aluminum roasting pan, like we use for Thanksgiving. The heads aren't neatly sliced off at the neck, but rather raggedly, and a lavender cloth is draped over them, as lavender is deemed calming.
Plastic surgeons can use them to practice on and make sure they are correct in locating certain muscles, locations of fat, etc., rather than making a mistake on a live subject.

The author describes how a need for desensitization is needed to work with the cadavers. Much like coroners or medical students need.

What strikes me as remarkable is the flexibility of the human mind to be able to step away from the thought that a bloody, dead, human head is sitting there in a pan and the participants are able to get to work.

If our minds have this capability to overcome the anxiety, disgust, horror and myriad of emotions before them for the greater goal to learn, can we somehow use this facility to overcome our petty anxieties and worries? Does this skill make us less human or just allow us to look at things from a perspective that is less detrimental to our mental state of wellness?

It gives a person food for thought.