ARTEFACT ACCIDENTS (cauldron explosion, wand backfiring, broom crashes etc)

This month, we will be visiting the Artefact Accidents department of St Mungo's. Artefact accidents are those caused by objects, usually magical, but not always. An important distinction needs to be made between artefact accidents and spell damage - with an artefact accident, the injury is caused by the object itself, rather than any magical properties associated with it, although these may be indirectly responsible.

Taking the title of the lesson as an example, a witch or wizard may be injured by a badly-made potion that caused his or her cauldron to explode. Such an injury might involve cuts from pieces of the exploded cauldron (and in severe cases, shards of cauldron embedded in the skin), and also associated potion poisoning or other damage from the contents of the cauldron - the potion may be splashed onto the skin or into the eyes, or accidentally swallowed, all three of which can be dangerous no matter how well a potion is made - as we all know, some potions are not meant to be swallowed, and most are not good news if they get into the eyes.

The Artefact Accidents department would deal mainly with the cuts and embedded shards of cauldron, rather than any effects from a potion. Likewise, if a wand was to backfire, the department would treat the burns from any sparks, and fix broken noses from the wand literally 'backfiring' into its owner's face, rather than any spell damage inflicted on the patient by the faulty wand.

Logically then, a broom crash patient would need to be treated in the Artefact Accidents department for any broken bones, cuts, bruises and similar. Usually with broom crashes, there are no accompanying magical injuries or ailments.

Artefact accident healers need to be skilled in the methods of physical healing, then, generally using charms and transfiguration to mend broken bones and deep cuts. They may also use potions such as magical pastes to treat burns and bruises.