This study was conducted in an attempt to determine whether "healing with intent" could... more This study was conducted in an attempt to determine whether "healing with intent" could be shown to exert an effect on pepsin enzyme ac-tivity which, if proven, might serve to raise the credibility of healing as a bona fide therapy. The ability of healing to influence enzyme activity was chosen as a method of assessment as it eliminated the possibility of the placebo ef-fect, which is often encountered when using human subjects. The rate of breakdown of egg albumen by a 1% pepsin solution was followed using a Jenway 6051 Colorimeter at a wavelength of 470 nm. An effect due to heal-ing was indicated by experiments using percentage light transmission (%T) as an indicator of reaction rate. Across 20 separate trials the reaction rate of the enzyme sample "healed with intent" was found to be significantly greater than the unhealed sample (P = 0.03).
When presenting an ailing hedgehog for examination by a veterinarian it is advisable to, whenever... more When presenting an ailing hedgehog for examination by a veterinarian it is advisable to, whenever possible, provide a faecal sample for scrutiny. This article presents a simple technique that allows assessment of aspects of hedgehog health from the overt appearance of the faeces. Analysis, using this technique, will allow more appropriate treatment to be administered in the majority of cases where overburdening by gastrointestinal parasites and/or pathogens is producing ill health. The technique has widespread applications in veterinary work, wildlife rehabilitation, and field zoology.
The data suggest that it is the relationship between the weight and size of a British hedgehog (E... more The data suggest that it is the relationship between the weight and size of a British hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) rather than the weight per se, that is important for assessing the animal's nutritional status and chances of post-release survival. The relationship between two girth measurements, made at right angles to each other on a tightly curled hedgehog, provides an effective new index (Bunnell Index, BI). A minimum value of 0.80 for the BI should be obtained in a healthy animal. By reference to charts depicting values for weight and BI values recorded for 57 hedgehogs, a comparison can be made with BI values measured in sick animals presenting for treatment. This can suggest the level of treatment required in order to successfully rehabilitate an animal.
Abstract: European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are thought to have two litters a year in Brit... more Abstract: European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are thought to have two litters a year in Britain. Second or late litters would be expected to have a reduced chance of survival as they have less time available to gain sufficient weight to enable them to survive hibernation. Anecdotally, juveniles born late in the season have been reported to gain weight faster than their early counterparts. This study was conducted in order to determine whether there is any difference in the growth rate between young born to early and late litters of hedgehogs and between the sexes. The growth rate of all young hedgehogs (n=119) arriving at the author’s sanctuary between 1998 and 2006 was determined. The overall growth rate of young born to late litters was found to be significantly higher than those born to early litters (0.05>P>0.01). There was no significant difference in growth rate between the sexes. Keywords: hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus, mammal conservation, growth rate, wildlife re...
Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)
Over the past two decades, nurses have begun to undertake tasks and assume responsibilities tradi... more Over the past two decades, nurses have begun to undertake tasks and assume responsibilities traditionally associated with medicine. This has led to debate, particularly with regard to the extension of the nurse prescribing role. This article examines some of the key issues surrounding the advancement of nursing practice and the effect on the nursing and medical professions.
Sexuality and sexual health are issues that have been neglected in nursing practice and in the li... more Sexuality and sexual health are issues that have been neglected in nursing practice and in the literature. This literature review discusses how the sexuality and sexual health of clients with learning disabilities are perceived and addressed in contemporary society. Sexuality and challenging behaviours, such as self-harm, can be linked and by denying or ignoring the sexual needs of clients there might be a case for professional negligence. The attitudes of staff and carers are important in understanding the sexual needs of clients and the shortfall in the education and training of nurses.
Parasite loads of animals vary among individuals, but the underlying mechanisms have not been ful... more Parasite loads of animals vary among individuals, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully identified. Here, we investigated whether health status of hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) is correlated with tick burden, and whether chemical cues linked to the health status of the host mediate attraction of the tick Ixodes hexagonus. An ecological survey conducted over 10 years, involving 226 wild hedgehogs, revealed a strong association between health status and tick burden of hedgehogs, with healthy animals being less likely to carry ticks than unhealthy ones. Behavioral choice tests demonstrated that ticks display a preference for the fecal odor from sick hedgehogs compared with healthy ones. Chemical analysis of fecal odors using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry showed differences in the odor profile between sick and healthy hedgehogs. Sick animals tended to exhibit raised levels of the volatile aromatic heterocyclic compound indole in their feces. Ticks were attracted to indole when given the choice between indole and a solvent control. However, fecal matter from healthy hosts, with the addition of indole, was not attractive to ticks, suggesting that indole interacts with other, undetected compounds in mediating attraction. This study implies that it is the attraction to fecal odor that causes higher tick burdens in sick hedgehogs. Ticks might benefit from this preference by avoiding possible repulsion mechanisms of healthy hosts. We suggest that ticks potentially choose their host based on odor linked to the host’s health status.
Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery, 2002
The aim of this paper was to promote the use of musical interventions with clients with learning ... more The aim of this paper was to promote the use of musical interventions with clients with learning disabilities. Musical interventions with this group of clients were found to be effective in reducing self-injurious behaviour, aggression and other behaviour, which challenge the service providers. Music was also found to have the potential to improve the communication skills of clients and to maintain their psychological well being. A review of the literature shows that music, though not widely used in the field of learning disabilities, can be an effective medium through which the quality of life of clients can be enhanced.
This study was conducted in an attempt to determine whether "healing with intent" could... more This study was conducted in an attempt to determine whether "healing with intent" could be shown to exert an effect on pepsin enzyme ac-tivity which, if proven, might serve to raise the credibility of healing as a bona fide therapy. The ability of healing to influence enzyme activity was chosen as a method of assessment as it eliminated the possibility of the placebo ef-fect, which is often encountered when using human subjects. The rate of breakdown of egg albumen by a 1% pepsin solution was followed using a Jenway 6051 Colorimeter at a wavelength of 470 nm. An effect due to heal-ing was indicated by experiments using percentage light transmission (%T) as an indicator of reaction rate. Across 20 separate trials the reaction rate of the enzyme sample "healed with intent" was found to be significantly greater than the unhealed sample (P = 0.03).
When presenting an ailing hedgehog for examination by a veterinarian it is advisable to, whenever... more When presenting an ailing hedgehog for examination by a veterinarian it is advisable to, whenever possible, provide a faecal sample for scrutiny. This article presents a simple technique that allows assessment of aspects of hedgehog health from the overt appearance of the faeces. Analysis, using this technique, will allow more appropriate treatment to be administered in the majority of cases where overburdening by gastrointestinal parasites and/or pathogens is producing ill health. The technique has widespread applications in veterinary work, wildlife rehabilitation, and field zoology.
The data suggest that it is the relationship between the weight and size of a British hedgehog (E... more The data suggest that it is the relationship between the weight and size of a British hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) rather than the weight per se, that is important for assessing the animal's nutritional status and chances of post-release survival. The relationship between two girth measurements, made at right angles to each other on a tightly curled hedgehog, provides an effective new index (Bunnell Index, BI). A minimum value of 0.80 for the BI should be obtained in a healthy animal. By reference to charts depicting values for weight and BI values recorded for 57 hedgehogs, a comparison can be made with BI values measured in sick animals presenting for treatment. This can suggest the level of treatment required in order to successfully rehabilitate an animal.
Abstract: European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are thought to have two litters a year in Brit... more Abstract: European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are thought to have two litters a year in Britain. Second or late litters would be expected to have a reduced chance of survival as they have less time available to gain sufficient weight to enable them to survive hibernation. Anecdotally, juveniles born late in the season have been reported to gain weight faster than their early counterparts. This study was conducted in order to determine whether there is any difference in the growth rate between young born to early and late litters of hedgehogs and between the sexes. The growth rate of all young hedgehogs (n=119) arriving at the author’s sanctuary between 1998 and 2006 was determined. The overall growth rate of young born to late litters was found to be significantly higher than those born to early litters (0.05>P>0.01). There was no significant difference in growth rate between the sexes. Keywords: hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus, mammal conservation, growth rate, wildlife re...
Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)
Over the past two decades, nurses have begun to undertake tasks and assume responsibilities tradi... more Over the past two decades, nurses have begun to undertake tasks and assume responsibilities traditionally associated with medicine. This has led to debate, particularly with regard to the extension of the nurse prescribing role. This article examines some of the key issues surrounding the advancement of nursing practice and the effect on the nursing and medical professions.
Sexuality and sexual health are issues that have been neglected in nursing practice and in the li... more Sexuality and sexual health are issues that have been neglected in nursing practice and in the literature. This literature review discusses how the sexuality and sexual health of clients with learning disabilities are perceived and addressed in contemporary society. Sexuality and challenging behaviours, such as self-harm, can be linked and by denying or ignoring the sexual needs of clients there might be a case for professional negligence. The attitudes of staff and carers are important in understanding the sexual needs of clients and the shortfall in the education and training of nurses.
Parasite loads of animals vary among individuals, but the underlying mechanisms have not been ful... more Parasite loads of animals vary among individuals, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully identified. Here, we investigated whether health status of hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) is correlated with tick burden, and whether chemical cues linked to the health status of the host mediate attraction of the tick Ixodes hexagonus. An ecological survey conducted over 10 years, involving 226 wild hedgehogs, revealed a strong association between health status and tick burden of hedgehogs, with healthy animals being less likely to carry ticks than unhealthy ones. Behavioral choice tests demonstrated that ticks display a preference for the fecal odor from sick hedgehogs compared with healthy ones. Chemical analysis of fecal odors using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry showed differences in the odor profile between sick and healthy hedgehogs. Sick animals tended to exhibit raised levels of the volatile aromatic heterocyclic compound indole in their feces. Ticks were attracted to indole when given the choice between indole and a solvent control. However, fecal matter from healthy hosts, with the addition of indole, was not attractive to ticks, suggesting that indole interacts with other, undetected compounds in mediating attraction. This study implies that it is the attraction to fecal odor that causes higher tick burdens in sick hedgehogs. Ticks might benefit from this preference by avoiding possible repulsion mechanisms of healthy hosts. We suggest that ticks potentially choose their host based on odor linked to the host’s health status.
Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery, 2002
The aim of this paper was to promote the use of musical interventions with clients with learning ... more The aim of this paper was to promote the use of musical interventions with clients with learning disabilities. Musical interventions with this group of clients were found to be effective in reducing self-injurious behaviour, aggression and other behaviour, which challenge the service providers. Music was also found to have the potential to improve the communication skills of clients and to maintain their psychological well being. A review of the literature shows that music, though not widely used in the field of learning disabilities, can be an effective medium through which the quality of life of clients can be enhanced.
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Papers by Toni Bunnell