Problem 3: Spoilt Concert Ms. T.

, a beautiful middle-aged famous Trinidadian singer, was invited to New York in January to give a concert. On the way from the airport to her hotel she could not avoid the blast of the chilling wind on her face and neck. The next morning she looked in the mirror and was shocked because her face looked crooked. While she was able to move her head and neck freely, she could not close her left eye and on drinking, water dribbled from the left corner of her mouth. She recalled a similar problem in the past when the dentist, treating her teeth, blocked a nerve in her mouth by an anaesthetic. At that time all symptoms disappeared on the same day. However, on this occasion, the specialist to whom she was referred, explained after examination of her face and radiographs of her skull that she could have a nerve compression in the small opening of the skull also known as Bells palsy and her new condition would require a more prolonged period of treatment. Since her concert was scheduled for the same evening, the singer had to cancel it.