Comments on: The Head Mirror: A Comic Book Classic

By: Red October

Red October — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 06:53:37 +0000

Nah, head-transplant is old-school. I thought it was bogus, but then I saw a somewhat disturbing film from the 50s or so of a doctor who grafted the head of one dog onto another dog’s body, leaving the original head intact, exactly as depcited on “Futurama”. The only hurdle to overcome, I suppose, is the intense neurosurgery involved in the spinal column. One can assume that by the 31st century that would be basic stuff even a bungler like Zoidburg could manage.

By: Blake

Blake — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:58:47 +0000

I just want to second Mike’s remarks on Zoidberg, and to add that if he did use it properly, that would be quite a shocking level of competence coming from him. It is best that they (accidentally) screwed it up. (Also, none of my doctors have ever used a headlamp, and I am 23, so I guess perhaps my generation is the first that will have to learn about head mirrors from cartoons. Honestly, I never knew that’s what it was; I thought it was just a spelunking lamp!)
Of course he WAS able to keep Fry’s head alive by grafting it onto Amy’s body, then keep the body alive (and fix it) for an undisclosed time period, then re-graft Fry’s head back onto his body with only minor side-effects. If that’s what an incompetent 31st century doctor is like, it makes you wonder what a competent one could do.

By: Kettch

Kettch — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:16:49 +0000

The last time I wore a head mirror was during my ENT rotation during internship. I sold mine after my rotation was through to a fellow intern. ENT’s at my hospital still use ‘em, though.

By: PearsonFaces.com

PearsonFaces.com — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:49:15 +0000

Ha! Great blog entry! I actually use my head mirror every day to examine patients’ noses. Its coaxial illumination is very helpful for peering into small holes like the nostrils, although the main reason I use it is simply tradition–it’s what I was trained to use during my residency. Of course, in the O.R. I use a fiber optic headlight and although that sits between my eyes, the off-axis angle is never much of an issue.

I do occasionally have a few patient remark on the old-school style of my head mirror, since it indeed has that stereotypical, Norman Rockwell painting, kind of look. :-)

By: occasional fish » More thoughts, more links

occasional fish » More thoughts, more links — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 02:13:43 +0000

[...] It’s funny: see a head mirror on a cartoon character, even a modern one, and we think “doctor.” But when’s the last time you saw an actual doctor wear one? via] [...]

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:29:36 +0000

Jon, that’s actually a pretty clever idea. I wonder why it hasn’t been done.

By: Jon H

Jon H — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:05:54 +0000

Seems like nowadays they could make something similar using a ring of high-intensity LEDs around a central eyehole. Sort of like a ring flash from a camera. It wouldn’t have to be as wide, which might make it easier to use.

By: mike.

mike. — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:33:01 +0000

I doubt that it was the artist’s original intention, but Zoidberg actually can get a pass in the incorrect usage department, as his character really is supposed to be a horrible doctor.

By: Ed

Ed — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:42:20 +0000

I used to think that it made the comic characters look like strange scientists from lost Atlantis or Lumuria ( with their traditional mystic headdress. )

By: Eric Henry

Eric Henry — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:21:16 +0000

I’m guessing another advantage would be that the head mirror leaves both hands free.

Batman for the Crime Doctor wore one that served as a weapon; shooting out a blinding beam of light.