STOICISM OF THE SCOT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 142, 5 March 1918, Page 5

STOICISM OF THE SCOT

RETICENCE OF THE BRAVE SOLDIER HAS ITS DISADVANTAGES. Who is the best soldier patient? A nurse in a great military hospital, chatting with a "Daily News" representative recently, spoke with enthusiasm of the wonderful ttoicisra of tho average Scottish soldier when ho is suffering acute agony. "All the doctors I have met," she declared, "are agreed about the capacity of the Scot for bear-, ing pain without flinching. "Thero was ono fine laddie upon whom I was attending recently. Ho was dreadfully injured, but it was necessary to turn .'him over even though . the operation hurt him moro terribly than ever. The doctor realised something of what it meant, and gavd instructions for tho utmost care and tenderness to bo exercised. When the tiirnlngwas half completed the doctor looked into his white and drawn face and asked how ho was. The poor lad simply gave him a patient glance and said, 'Carry on!' '■ But tho Scot is not tho ideal patient.. Tlio very rosorve which,helps to uphold him in excruciating torment makes 'him difficult to deal with in the early stages of illness. He is so taciturn that only with considerable trouble, very often, is it possible to discover his symptoms. It would perhaps, after all, not be fair to specify those whom the nurso regarded as the worst among soldier patients —on account of their natural excitability. Tho heroism _ of endurance knows no line of territory. She was looking at the question solely from tho professional point of view—which is directed, of course, towards appreciation of the cases that are least exacting to those in attendance.