The Extraction of RogT’s Tooth
Winter at Fossil Bluff lasts about 2 1/2 months. We defined the Winter, generally, as the period of darkness, when the sun never crept above the horizon, and to the extent that the light is too low to take scientific or surveying observations.
Towards the end of Winter, in August 1973, we were preparing for our first early Spring trip. However, RogT (Roger Tindley) had been experiencing increasing pain each day from his upper left molar tooth. We were concerned that this would impact our Spring travel season. This travel period has limited days for field work between the return of the sun and the George VI Sound’s (the “Sound”) surface becoming waterlogged. The sun soon heats up the dark mudstone formations of East Alexander Island and copious melt run- off forms fast flowing streams which then culminate in large, blue lakes on the ice shelf surface. Surface travel (and field work) then becomes impossible. So, we have to get all our work done before this occurs. Each day of early spring, therefore, is important.
We planned our trip to the Southern region of the Sound to start on September 2nd. We needed to re-measure some existing glacier movement projects, and establish new projects according to our Work Programme. Fortunately, Rog’s tooth has quieted down over the last couple of days. On September 2nd its dawned dingle and -26.5degC – and we were “off”.
Except… No…not so…
Rog’s tooth ache was back with a vengeance. The prospect of his breathing in air in the temperature range -15 to -35deg C across
his lurky tooth for the next 6 weeks, was not a pleasant prospect. This was serious, as our limited field season days could become directly impacted. We abandoned travel for the day and fixed him up with two fillings, and the tooth seemed to calm down somewhat.
The following day, however, the tooth was playing up badly, again. We had a discussion around the kitchen (i.e. Conference) table, with the conclusion, (with Rog’s initiative and blessing), that we would have to extract that pesky tooth. To repeat, just so that it sinks in, we were going to have to pull his tooth out…
In planning the operation, we contacted and discussed with “Dr Death” (Dr David McCleod) at Adelaide base, and got out our “KuraFid”, the BAS first aid book, to read up what to do!
Next, we discussed who would do what. This system really could not have worked out better- Jim Bishop drew the straw for administering the anaesthetic jab. Good call this as Jim could be a bit of a prickly character at times😊 Jonathan Walton (Jon) was up for wielding the dental forceps. This again was just as it should be. Jon is a big powerful guy even when he is racing slim. After a couple of winter months on base, daily eating good scradges, he would be tipping the scales north of 17 ½ stone. Once he got to pivot himself around those dental forceps, that tooth would be out in fraction of a nanosecond. Graham Tourney was up for directing operations to the Team through radio link with Dr Death, at Adelaide base. (The good Dr. had never pulled a tooth before, either!) Graham had the job of confirming and converting the good Doctor’s Scottish lilt into real world instructions in good BBC English, wrapped in a pretty strong Lancashire brogue, plus holding the torch – as we only had dim lights! And lastly, the patient, the man of the moment, Rog T, is a laid-back sorta guy, and good for that too, as he was about to be laid back across the kitchen (i.e. Operating) table for a lot longer than any of us had envisaged…
Fossil Bluff is a small, one room hut, and all the scradge supplies and most everything else was lined up and depot-ed on the scree behind the Base hut. As this all area gets snow covered in winter, a detailed map is made showing the positions of the goodies boxes in each row and marked out. In winter, in the dark and the stores covered in snow, one needed to venture out with map and tilly lamp in one hand, and ice axe in the other. Striding purposefully (say) 3 rows up and (guessing) 6 boxes along – then dig for the box (Medi-box in this case) and Ooops… it’s a box of baked beans, try another box along…
From the Medi-box we selected the Xylotox anaesthetic. This is extra strong lignocaine with added adrenalin to improve the potency – standard dental stuff. First this need to be thawed out, then loaded up, for the crucial jab. We talked and rehearsed about the precise position to place the jab – a bit like the Carpenter’s adage of,” measure twice and cut once”. This was, really, the crucial first stage of the actual operation. We got started at 9.20pm.
Jon had a few goes at pulling (though not yet at full power). The tooth did not seem to budge. The anesthetic was not too choice either, not really doing its anesthetizing job, so poor Rog got a few more doses!
We were surprised not to have any movement of the tooth at all. Then Jon noticed we had the upper right dental forceps in action when it was an upper left tooth to be extracted… Well, this must have been the reason for no tooth movement, we had been torqueing the tooth the wrong way! Rog’s elite tooth extraction team had to confer the problem by telepathy lest we cause eagle-eyed Rog to have loss of confidence in his crack team, and, moreover, none of us wanted Rog’s wrath should he spot the changeover… I know, says one wag, let’s give him another jab! And so, as he took another, we surreptitiously changed out the forceps. Now, with Jon’s 18 ½ stones pivoting around these (left -side) forceps we felt a quiet confidence that all would be OK…
We tried many times pulling and twisting and rocking and turning, and with full power exerted. The tooth did not give a fraction of a nanometer. The anesthetic did not hold up either despite multi doses. We concluded that it had lost it poke (potency), probably with the multi freeze thaw cycles it had been subjected to, whilst stored.
After some 2 ½ hours we decided to call it a day. We were all quite spent and poor Rog had had more pricks that a Montevideo night worker. We planned on an early start in the morning, this time with a different anaesthetic.
We had observed that the glass tubes of the dental lignocaine had some precipitate in them – our radio doctor thought this was probably not a good indication, and this was confirmed by the dentist in the Falklands who was on the other end of yet another radio link with Adelaide.
Next morning, with breakfast over, we felt a quiet confidence for the job. However, Rog was feeling a bit nervous (now knowing) what lay ahead, and so we administered a small (medical sized) tot of Navy Neaters Rum to calm his nerves. Come to think of it, we were a tad nervous too, so his Team had a wee nip of the Neaters, as well. The Rum calmed Roger nicely, and improved all our confidence no end.
We were now using just the plain (non-dental) lignocaine – less strong but no precipitate visible, so perhaps this is OK – and by now we had perfected the procedure. We linked up a 13.30 sked with Adelaide, and got cracking.
Today we started with 100mg of Pethidine to relax the young man. After 15 minutes he was giggling away. Maybe we gave him a tad too much Pethidine…? Then 1% Lignocaine anaesthetic was administered.
Jon swung his 19 ½ stone this way and that, North and South, East and to the West, to the Zenith and to the Nadir, firmly attached to the handles of the forceps. The tooth did not budge. It became obvious during our attempts that this anesthetic was not up to the job either. Another painful session for Rog (although he was still giggling!). And so, after a second 2 ½ hour session we retreated to weigh up the forward plan.
In the evening we skedded with Adelaide and received info. from the (real) dentist in Stanley. Good service. Overall, in our discussions we decided to leave things for the present. If the situation did not markedly deteriorate, we could get Rog up to Adelaide Base in six weeks’ time to the Doctor, following the arrival of the Twin Otters. Meanwhile, we would go travelling and Rog would take a liberal dose of paracetamol as and when, and maybe the odd squeeze of a cotton-wool ball infused with whiskey😊
We left next morning for Two Step Cliffs, an area about 75 miles south of the Bluff.
We completed our glaciological and survey work in the South over the next few weeks and returned to Base, re-loaded and headed to the North to remeasure some glacier movement schemes set out during the previous Autumn, and also to lay a big Depot for a summer Geological Team.
During these weeks, to all our great fortune, Rog’s tooth went quiet. (We had not moved it but at least we must have scared it!) He did not have to overdose on paracetamol (nor the whiskey). In time, he did not need to go up to Adelaide Base, after the planes had returned.
Then as the George VI Sound surfaces began to soften and lakes started forming, as described earlier, Rog and Jim undertook a very successful summer traverse along the high plateau of the Peninsula spine from Charity Depot and for 422 km, collecting glaciological data. Ultimately, one of our very old skidoos (“George”) finally gave up due to metal fatigue, and the traverse was finished.
For Rog, there followed the rest of summer on summer base relief, and then the long voyage home. Back in the UK he re-adjusted to that life, took up a career as an ROV Pilot in the North Sea, and bagged another shed- full of Monroe’s.
Then some 2 ½ years after his return from FIDS, that problem tooth once again made its presence felt. This time Rog took himself off to a (real) dentist. The extraction started ok, but as the hours ticked by, the dentist, (now, sweat beading on his brow) ended up with his two knees on Rog’s chest and was hauling for all he was worth, and some. Then, on giving his all, that pesky tooth eventually deigned to plop out…
Jeezo… said the dentist… “You know that was the hardest tooth I have ever pulled…But it was already heavily scratched and scored…??”
In a microsecond Rog thought to himself, “Aye, pull up a sledging box and I’ll tell you a story….” And then in equal short time thought to himself, “Ahh… never mind”.
And here is the young man – tooth intactus! Taking a quick smoko stop out on our Spring journey.