ABSTRACT
Many medical schools, particularly those with resources to spare, are becoming increasingly interested in highly advanced technologies for this. A few years ago, a video made the rounds on the Internet showing how a robot called da Vinci could stitch up a small tear in a grape. It was only at the end of the video that the people realised the grape was nestled in the base of a narrow-necked glass jar. No surgeon was visible except for the arms of the robot, meticulously sewing up the cut in the grape with knots of the finest thread. Oranges are a particularly versatile fruit to teach doctors with. Smell has long been important in clinical diagnosis, with many illnesses leaving traces on the breath or in their urine. Patients' families and friends can be educated to recognise the distinctive pear drop aroma too, so that they can get help for their loved one as soon as possible.
