THE DIARY OF A DOCTOR WHO TELLS

Evening Star, Issue 25003, 23 October 1943, Page 3

THE DIARY OF A DOCTOR WHO TELLS

" ONLY A SLIGHT STRAIN "

Monday, October 18. " It's probably only a slight said • Herbert Hands hopefully as I. looked him over to try to account tor reported sharp pains in his right side, accompanied by nausea and occasional fever. . My diagnosis was chronic appendia suggestion receiving no welcome from Herbert, who informed me that he "didn't believe in operations unless they were absolutely necessary." I informed him that I shared his belief. . "You're sure it's not just strain, said Herbert rather desperately. " Quite sure," I said. " When it comes on again let me know. Meanwhile, take things fairly easily and don't over-exert yourself. In any ca'se, I'd like another look at you in about a month." "Strain" is a word rarely found in medical text-books. Chiefly it refers to a sudden over-stretching of a muscle or tendon. There is also the "strain " of prolonged anxiety and worry over something. But we don't strain our stomachs, kidneys and other internal organs. True, we speak of " straining " our eve muscles by over-using tliem, or using them in a bad light. And we "strain " our vocal cords by prolonged shouting or bad singing. At the end of the football season we generally get a reported case or two of so-called strained heart. I doubt whether it ever really occurs. Anxious mothers can cease from worryins over the possibility of healthy little Willie straining his heart at the school sports. If little Willie is unhealthy he has no business over-exerting himself.

Which reminds me that it is possible for a heart to be affected if undue calls are made on it too soon after a serious illness or an acute infection like influenza. Tuesday, October 19. " You don't know me. Doctor," said ■a voice at the other end of a trunkline call this evening, " but you are attending my sister for a stroke." " A stroke?" I asked, a little puzzled in that I have no patients suffering from that trouble at the moment. " Yes," replied the man. "I'm Mrs Harsell's brother." , "Mrs Harsell hasn't had a stroke," 1 said. " She's only suffering from " " Oh, but surely you are mixing her with somebody else!" said the brother. " My sister's had a stroke all right.