From the Case Files of Dr. Bromwell
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| images from The Amazing Spider-Man #113 (October 1972) by Gerry Conway and John Romita |
It’s good to see Dr. Bromwell again, and nice to know that he’s still performing house calls. One of the implications here is that Peter has pulled one over on the good old doctor, who of course is not aware that all of Peter’s numerous problems relate to him being Spider-Man.
But on the other hand, who’s to say Dr. Bromwell isn’t right? It wouldn’t surprise me to discover that in addition to being Spider-Man, Peter has an ulcer, just like the doctor says.
You can tell the time frame this was written by Dr. Bromwell’s approach to the diagnosis and treatment of ulcers. For the better part of the twentieth century, it was believed that ulcers were caused by a combination of high stress and poor diet. Later, increased stomach acid production was suspected as the underlying cause. Then, in the last twenty years or so, it was discovered that most ulcers have an infectious cause — a nasty little bacteria known as Helicobacter pylori (more commonly called H.pylori). Thus current treatment for ulcers includes acid reducing medication in addition to a course of strong antibiotics.
Dr. Bromwell seems to be firmly in the first camp: ulcers are caused by stress and a poor diet. He tells Peter that he is too tense for someone his age, and then tells Gwen what food he can and cannot have.
The main treatment for ulcers at the time of this comics was antacids, which were available over the counter. Some physicians at the time mistakenly prescribed anticholinergic medications (which are good for other gastrointestinal problems, but not ulcers), and this is probably what Dr. Bromwell is sending Harry out to get.
As for his “further tests,” Dr. Bromwell is talking about an Upper GI, where Peter would drink a contrast solution like Barium, and then an x-ray would be taken and examined for the tell-tale sings of ulcers. Today, upper endoscopy (an EGD) is the most common method of diagnosing an ulcer.
• Ulcers have also been discussed before, most memorably in the final story (”Worried Sick”) of the classic medical comic M.D. #4.
January 16th, 2009 at 11:05 am
How long has it been since Dr.Bromwell last appeared, anyway?
January 16th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Official Comment
This is his most recent appearance, as far as I know — so it’s been about 37 years since his house call.
With the recent semi-reboot of Spider-Man, it would be nice to see the ol’ doc again.
January 16th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Doctor Bromwell has appeared in the Spectacular Spider-man Animated Series as Aunt May’s doctor, although he had a very different appearance from the comic book version.
I agree that with the reboot, now would be a great time to bring him back in the comic books.
January 18th, 2009 at 3:09 am
It’s cool to see something here that I knew the answer to, even if the medicine has to be 20 years out of date for that to happen.
January 20th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
^_^ And the guy who figured out it was a bacteria that caused it got a mention is Cracked.com’s “6 Most Badass Stunts Ever Pulled In The Name of Science” article. He couldn’t convince them with his data, so instead he and his buddies chugged a flask of the bacteria and established proof with the resultant bleeding stomach ulcers.
January 24th, 2009 at 5:22 am
Did the good doctor call tomatoes spicy?
Also couldn’t he have let Peter put his shirt on before calling for Stacy?
January 24th, 2009 at 7:52 am
Official Comment
Tomatoes are acidic, which is equally bad as spicy for a patient with an ulcer.
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