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Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference

Real World article
(written from a Production point of view)
Cover image
Illustrator(s): Doug Drexler and Anthony Fredrickson
Publisher: Ballantine Books ("Star Fleet Productions, Inc.")
Editor(s): Eileen Palestine & Geoffrey Mandel
Published: October 1977
Pages: 160
Reference: ISBN 0345274733

The Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual is a reference book showing various anatomies of species (both humanoid and non) from the 23rd century, as well as various medical techniques.

Contents

[edit] Summary

A Publication of the Star Fleet Surgeon General.

WARNING: The Surgeon General's medical reference manual is intended as a basic source of medical information for starship crew members, and is not an alternative to treatment by a physician. First aid procedures should be used with caution, and only by trained personnel.

Excerpts of copyrighted sources are included for review purposes only, without any intention of infringement.

[edit] Contents

[edit] Hippocratic Oath

The first thing any physician should know is the Hippocratic Oath, created by Hippocrates (460-370 BC) cited as the "Father of Terran Medicine."

[edit] Introduction

An essay on the "Historical Trends in Medicine" credited to Professor Dr. John Gill, PhD, explains about how surgeons have been on ships created by Humans since the first ships were built, and that how those surgeons have written books on "naval medical practices," such as the first such one on Earth: "The Surgeon's Mate" by John Woodall in 1617 or "The Starship's Medical Chest and First Aid in Space" published in 2105.

[edit] Historical

A timeline of important medical discoveries, failures, and plagues that have affected various important planets, starting with the Great Plague ("skag maug") on Vulcan that killed thousands, and continuing through to the present "Federation Era." The timeline ends around 2260.

Various dates and historic information is, of course, later contradicted by both reality and future Star Trek series. One example is that the founding date of the United Federation of Planets is listed as in 2125, instead of 2161. Another example is that on the parallel Earth, all adults died on 1992 due to life prolonging experiments.

[edit] Medical

A "Periodic table of the Elements (Fifth Interstellar Geophysical Conference standard)" lists the elements 1 (hydrogen) to 129 (tricobalt), and 139 (kironide) and 140 (corbomite).

Interestingly, Kirk seemed to imply that corbomite was a fictional material he made up – but it is listed as having been discovered in 2262 at Starbase 27.

Followed by a list of all the elements, their symbol, atomic weight (by mass number of most stable isotope), atomic weight, place of discovery, and date of discovery. (If Humans discovered it prior to first contact, that place and date is given.) All dates are by Earth calendar, unless specially marked using the Vulcan calendar, which lists Vulcan years post-Surak.

  • Radiation

[edit] Drugs

[edit] Diseases

[edit] Life sciences

  • Vulcan Physiology

[edit] Humanoid anatomy

Average weight: 70 kilos (male)
45 kilos (female)
Blood pressure: 160/110 (male)
180/120 (female)
Andorian 
Insectoid biped (Homo indi)

Andorians are a blue-skinned humanoid species, average height 2.3 meters (male) and 1.8 meters (female). They have a life expectancy of 129 years (male) and 134 years (female).

Their eyes are unusual in that they do not process the whole spectrum of light, and must be used in unison with their antennae. Andorians vision is called "quadroscopic," and is limited to tones of gray. Their auditory receptors (in their antennae) are more advanced then many other humanoids, capable of distinguishing independent sounds from a crowd. Also, to provide better focus for their senses, Andorians will lean their head down towards a person they are listening to, to obtain better focus from their monodirectional antennae.

Curiously, the Andorians are shown as not having external ears. This is based on the fact that throughout their TOS appearances, their thick white hair covered their ears – or where their ears would have been. The first prominently-displayed Andorian with ears was the Andorian Federation councilor from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, produced nine years later.
Also later contradicted is the fact that Andorians have non-moving antennae. Clearly shown in Star Trek: Enterprise, it was mentioned that they could "point their antennae" at people in DS9: "The Sound of Her Voice".
Average weight: 200 kilos (male)
100 kilos (female)
Blood pressure: 80/50 (male)
Gorn 
Reptiloid biped (Homo lacertae)

The Gorn are a green reptilian humanoid species, average height 2 meters (male) and 1.4 meters (female). They have a life expectancy of 55 years (male) and 21 years (female).

Being cold-blooded, they require ambient warmth and prefer to live in tropical climates. Their respiratory system is less advanced then most, and provides just enough oxygen to the body to remain functioning. One internal source of temperature is when a female Gorn gives birth: Gorn lay eggs, which hatch while still inside the oviduct – this only appears to be live birth. Their eyes are covered in thousands of facets, each with its own protective lid.

Average weight: 70 kilos (male)
60 kilos (female)
Blood pressure: 120/80
Human 
Hominid biped (Homo sol)

Humans are a red-blooded "humanoid" species (originators of the name) with average heights of 1.7 meters for males and 1.5 meters for females. They have a life expectancy of 115 years for males and 122 years for females.

Information on Human anatomy is abundant, and as such is not included in this particular manual. Texts regarding Humans are available at your local Star Fleet Supply Center for merely five credits. Or, for more information, you are advised to contact:

Star Fleet Surgeon General
Federation Institute of Medicine
1 Zefram Cochrane Plaza, New York City
Earth - Sol System - United Federation of Planets
According to the literature, within the next three hundred years, the scientific nomenclature for a Human will change from "Homo sapiens" to "Homo sol", referencing the home star of the species.
Average weight: 80 kilos (male)
50 kilos (female)
Blood pressure: 130/80
Klingon 
Klingonoid biped (Homo sagittarii)

Klingons are a well-known "humanoid" species famous for their use of bio-engineering by their government to selectively breed out the impure in their species, so only the best survive. They have an average heights of 1.9 meters (male) and 1.7 meters (female). They have a life expectancy of 82 years (male) and 69 years (female).

Their single stomach has two duodenum, which increase digestive flow efficiency to their small intestines. Special notice is given to their small intestine, and physicians should be careful: as their unique design is "stairway-like levels," which first twist downward, then upward again into the large intestine. The higher body temperature in Klingons are caused by their second liver.

Although before Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and thereby the first appearance of Klingon forehead ridges, the book still predicts that Klingons have undergone some form of genetic engineering as explained in the Star Trek: Enterprise episodes "Affliction" and "Divergence".
However, the book fails to predict the numerous redundant systems (or "brak'lul") explained in TNG: "Ethics". Although they are shown to have a redundant liver, more variety than most anatomies in the book.
Tellarite anatomy
Tellarite anatomy
Average weight: 80 kilos (male)
150 kilos (female)
Blood pressure: 160/110 (male)
180/120 (female)
Tellarite 
Artiodactyloid biped (Homo cygni)

Tellarites are a vaguely pig-like humanoid species, known to share several characteristics with the non-sentient lifeform. They have an average heights of 1.8 meters (male) and 2.2 meters (female). They have a life expectancy of 87 years (male) and 93 years (female).

Tellarites legs end in two-toed feet with hooves, their femur is notable for missing the third tochanter, and their fibula is vestigial. Their digestive system is designed for plants, and as such they have two stomachs which utilize bacteria to break down the food before entering their single intestine. They often have multiple births, and their sense of smell and hearing is advanced for a humanoid, while their eyesight is sub-par.

The book seems to imply that Tellarites are herbivores, and that their stomachs cannot digest meat. But in Enterprise we learn that canines are a delicacy on Tellar Prime. Also, although no close up has been specifically focused on the legs or feet of Tellarites, the series' do not seem to support the "hoofed, pig-like feet" theory used here.
Vulcan anatomy
Vulcan anatomy
Average weight: 70 kg (male)
50 kg (female)
Average height: 2.0 meters (male)
1.7 meters (female)
Blood pressure: 80/40
Vulcan 
Vulcanoid biped (Homo Eridani)

Vulcans are a green-blooded humanoid species with average heights of 2.0 meters (male) and 1.7 meters (female). They have a life expectancy of 250 years.

Only minor variations exist between the Vulcanoid species, such as the Rigelians of Rigel V, and the Romulans. For more information on the Vulcans, refer to the "Vulcan Physiology" portion of this manual.


Brain Development 
...
Cranial Development 
...
Heart Development 
...

[edit] Intelligent Aliens

[edit] Parasites

[edit] Plants


  • Psionics
The section on psionics in the book seems to imply that no possessor of psionic powers can be trusted not to be evil. Also, it credits "the terran scientist Kirlian" with detecting the Human aura; the claims of Semyon Kirlian that the technique of Kirlian corona discharge photography depicts the Human aura have not been conclusively substantiated. Some fans have speculated that this section, whose writer is not specifically credited, was written by Dr. Leonard McCoy, and that he wrote it as a bitter attack on any psionic phenomena.
  • Chiropractic

[edit] First aid

  • Artificial Ventilation
  • Carry Techniques
    • Three-man lift
    • Chair carry
    • Four-handed seat
    • Two-handed seat
    • Pulling the victim
    • Lifting & supporting the victim
  • Classification of Burns (Vulcan)
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
  • Dislocation of the Superior Cortex (Andorian)
  • Mouth-to-mouth Resuscitation (Vulcan)
  • Foreign Body Obstruction of the Airway
  • Mugato Bite
  • Opening the Mouth
  • Vulcan Cardiac Arrest

[edit] Equipment

[edit] Background

Numerous illustrations in DS9: "The Nagus"

[edit] Cover gallery

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