The Diary of a Doctor Who Tells

Evening Star, Issue 23527, 16 March 1940, Page 3

The Diary of a Doctor Who Tells

Monday, March 18. I like the story of the wife who complained to the judge that her husband had been subject to attacks of gay fever for several years. It came to mind to-day when Patricia, the secretary, said bitingly of 68-year-old Herbert Crockley, “ It would be kinder, to hit him on the head than to cure him.’ 1 “ What’s the trouble?” J. said from the desk where I was entering remarks on Herbert’s case sheet. “ Oh, nothing,” she replied. “Come on,” 1 said, “ out with it.” “If yon must know,” she said, “ he’s just an N.O.M.’’ “ Come again?” 1 asked. “ Nasty Old Man,” she replied, and pushed up a window with unnecessary vigour.

If a man—or a woman for that matter —is unpleasantly-minded, he or she probably will be at least no less so at 70 than at 33. . > There are, however, one or two conditions, like undue glandular growth or arterial changes in the brain, which have a definite influence on character. If a respectable man of late middleage suffers a noticeable change of character it is always worth while submitting him to the closest medical exahiination to see if some organic reason can be found. V

Is character mainly a matter ot chemistry? The answer remains locked in the secret treasure chest of science for the time being. We know quite definitely that certain characteristics, and indeed mental outlooks, are determined by the over-secretion, or undersecretion, of glands like the thyroid and the pituitary. Many of our criminals, it is claimed, are examples of glandular disorder. Against that, of course, is the fact that to man alone of all animals has been given an intellect capable of sorting out good from evil, capable of applying the test of conscience to intended acts. Ultimately, I suppose, what wo become in life is tho result of the eternal struggle between conscience and chemistry.

Tuesday, March 19, He was a somewhat under-sized, weather-beaten man about 35. “ Morning, Doc.,” he said briskly. “ Thought I’d just come along for the oncc-over, though probably all I need’s a dose or two of black draught.” “ Sailor, eh?” I said. “ Yes,” he answered. “ How d’yer know?” •• ' “Black draught.” 1 replied. Its in every ship’s medicine chest.” il Dunno wliore we’d bo without it,’ he commented. ' The overhaul confirmed my patient’s opinion that there was nothing radically wrong, and that all he needed at the moment was something in the nature of a black draught. “ How’s the food on your ship? 1 asked him. “ Not bad, Doc.,” he said. We get plenty to eat.’’ . • _ .. , “Plenty of variety?” I persisted. “ Fruit and green vegetables, for instsncp “ ’Ere, ’arf a mo, Doc.,” he said. “I’m a sailor, not a ruddy passenS cr -” .' • - .

It may be surprising to know that life at sea is not the healthiest of lives. Certainly, it should be, with its pure air, its regular hours of rest auci duty, and its abundance of sunshine. Probably the crew’s diet sheet on many of the ships has something to do with it, and the present moment is probably opportune for checking the point that the food given pur merchant marine be scientifically adequate not only m amount but also in vitamin value. It cannot be too strongly emphasised that the present war is a war of science, and that the side with the most practical scientific outlook begins with a tremendous advantage.

Wednesday, March 20. “But I don’t understand,” pleaded John Martin, “ I don’t understand. She was so well.” Yesterday, John Martin’s wile was happy and well, making a splendid recovery from a not very big operation performed by one of our best surgeons a couple of weeks ago. This morning she died suddenly. Actually,. she was murdered. _ The murder was committed by a blood

Glands and Gay Fever

clot which suddenly blocked her pulmonary artery, and consequently interfered with the purification of her blood. Death was almost immediate.

These cases are the tragedies of a doctor’s life and work, and we do not know how to prevent them. Their comparative rarity does not lessen their sadness.

We call these wandering blood clots “ thromboses ” or “ embolisms.” They form abnormally, and according to their site on their wanderings so do they kill or maim. They can occur after operations or in normal life. If a small blood vessel of no great importance is attacked the patient probably survives. There is no simpler or more dramatic cause of death.

Thursday, March 21. “ X tell her that the old story about getting your beauty sleep before midnight is no old wile’s talc,” said Mrs Anthony, looking at her daughter, Adele, this morning, “ but you know what these young people are. it s always well after midnight when she finally goes to sleep. I wish you d talk to her.” “ 1 don’t want much sleep, protested Adele. “ 1 never get tired so long as 1 get five or six hours. Some people are like that, aren’t they ? There was Lord Roberts, for instance.” “ The one-in-a-million exception never proves anything,” I rgtorted. “ I don’t know whether you feel tired, but you certainly look it tbis very moment.” “ Oh, I’ve had a bit of a hectic week this week,” replied Adele. “ I suppose I should get more sleep really, but do tell mother that there’s no difference in sleeping before midnight or after so long as you get enough of it. “ I’m not certain enough to tell mother- anything of the sort,” I said. “ But I can tell you that very few girls can last the distance of the later twenties and still retain their youth unless they have at least two or three early nights a week. And by ‘ early ’ I mean bed before 10 o’clock.” Mother smiled tr.umphantly. 1 felt a bit of a grandfather laying down the law to, the obvious discomfiture of so charming an example of Miss 1940, but I sometimes feel that lack of adequate rest is _ the greatest predisposing'cause of illness in the young. Is there anything in the beauty sleep idea? We are coming to the opinion thta there is a “natural” sleep, and that that time is fairly soon after the sun has set. It probably is scientifically true that to fall naturally asleep at the close of the day after the evening meal results in the most beneficial type of slumber, and that many a post-dinner nap should extend into the small hours of the morning rather than serve merely us a temporary stimulant for further exertion. The Russian scientist, Sehteckmann, definitely claims to have proven that the best time for sleep is from 7 p.m. to 11.30 p.m.

Friday, March 22, “Another lady bit me,” said, Mrs Allenton with commendable brevity, displaying her arm to my gaze. “I’m goin’ to have the lor on ’er, so I want you to see it so as you can,give evidence.’ “Let’s fix the bite first and think of the evidence after,” 1 said, “ No,” she said, “ I’ll fix the bite. You just take a look.” And she moved towards the door. “ Human bites need careful treatment,” I replied. “You’d better let me fix it up. The fee will be the same.” She reluctantly consented._ • Most people get very worried about dog bites, but ignore human bites (not as uncommon a trouble as may be supposed). Actually, in this part of the world where there is no “ rabies. ’ dog bites mostly arc harmless enough, and, in most cases can he treated by a wash in hot water and soap and an antiseptic. Human bites can be much more dangerous. The class of adult human who bites deeply is generally not of high order, and his or her mouth is likely 'to he septic. The sepsis should be countered instantly by the liberal use of. hot water and soap and subsequent iodine or corresponding antiseptic treatment until the wound heals. Names In this Diary are fictitious. Copyright.