The Diary of a Doctor Who Tells

Evening Star, Issue 23699, 5 October 1940, Page 3

The Diary of a Doctor Who Tells

Growing Into One’s Shell

Monday, September 30. “ I’m terribly worried, Doctor,” said Mrs Ponnville. “ You know our Jack . . well, lie’s been a bit worried lately and ho went to talk it over with somoono who knows something about psychology.” “ As long as the someone really did know .something, no great harm and possible profit would result,” 1 replied. Psychology is an admirable example of the saying that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.” ■‘l think the man’s right enough, said Mrs Ponnville, “ and at last we ve dragged out of Jack what he said. “ And what did he says'” I- asked. “ He said,” replied Mrs Ponnville, with terrible intensity, “ that ho was an introvert.” “ Well,” said T, “ it’s merely a name for a certain type of individual. Some of the most beautiful characters and scholars in the world have been introverts.” , , , ' , “ What’s it all mean?” asked the. mother, a little reassured. “ Can wo do anything about it?” li Perhaps in extreme cases, but most of us arc either mild introverts or extroverts ” I said. 11 As someone put it, Sherlock Holmes, the introspective thinker, lost in his thought to the outside world of the moment, is the typical introvert, while the jovial, bustling Mr Pickwick, of immortal literary fame, is the typical extrovert. ‘‘You mean that introverts are quiet, thoughtful people, while extroverts are exuberant social successes? said Mrs Pennville. • , “ There’s much more in it than that.” I replied, “ though you ve started along the right road. the introvert, like Jack, has his interests and thoughts turned ‘ inward. t le can retire into his shell and let the world go by, and, in fact, prefers to do it every now and again. You probably think that Jack is a bit too reserved, and keeps things from you. “That’s what’s been worrying me, confessed Mrs Pennviilo instantly. “ Don’t worry unduly,” 1 said. Its his nature. Yon have compensations. He isn’t the type that runs wild. He can amuse himself in his own quiet way. He probably likes reading. “ He’s rather a sensitive hoy,” said his mother “His father says he’s too thin-skinned.” “ Its just another mark of the thing we’re talking about,” 1 said, “ Careful management and a respect for his point of view will help him over a lot of rough places. Encourage him to take part in games. See he doesn’t crawl into his she 1 ! too much at parties. Encourage him to ask his friends home.”

of your trouble, rather than dealing with the effect, i want you to get a case of oranges. Have a fruit day on Saturday, starting oil with halt a dozen oranges instead of morning tea, and having another half a. dozen before you go to bed.” “ Uli, doctor, 1 couldn’t,” said Mrs Ly el Ison. “ i’m sure they’d upset me.”

All the better,” 1 said cheerfully, “ At least we’d know you were influenced by them. If all goes well, have tuo juice of half a dozen oranges every morning next week” J also said something about a daily salad of sufficient proportions.

We spend lavishly on the drainage system of cities, but I’ll warrant we spend more on the drainage system of our bodies. In the wnole of the British Empire we probably use as much bottled remedy as would float the British Navy. If medicine is necessary, then, of course, there’s no option. But the fundamental line of attack should be a dietetic one.

Wednesday, October 2. “ I hate making a fuss,” said my friend Ralph Tranley this evening when 1 asked him why lie hadn’t come along with Iris stomach trouble before. “ I’m a bit of a stoic in my quiet way, you know, Peter.” “ Don’t kid yourself, my boy, ’ I. said. “ People suffer and put up with a lot sometimes, not because they’re stoics and don’t like a fuss, but because they don’t like the thought of the possible verdict and the inconveniences that tho treatment might make them suffer.”

“You’re brutally frank,” ho said to me, with a half-offended laugh. “ Where’s your bedside manner these days? ” .

“ I can afford to dispense with it with friends,” I retorted, “more especially if the truth might do them as much good as a bottle of medicine.” Ralph lias definite signs of appendix trouble . , . sharp attacks of pains in his abdomen (not stomach), feelings of nausea, with a little vomiting, a feverish feeling accompanying the attacks, and so on.

People who let this sort of thing go on may end up with a midnight journey to the operating theatre, and a burst appendix to be dealt with. Thursday, October 3. “He’s very tiny, isn’t he?” said young Mrs Edwins wistfully, as she gazed rapturously at the new baby. “ Nurse says he weighs just under seven pounds. That’s much too small, isn’t it? Aren’t babies generally about eight or nine pounds when they’re born? ” “ Not a bit of it,” I said. “ American authorities claim that seven pounds two ounces is the average, and I don’t know that they’re far wrong.” “What’s the biggest baby you’ve had, Doctor? ” asked the young mother. “ Quite a modest catch of 12 pounds,” I said. “ But the size at birth has just as little to do with general health as it has in after life.” Friday, October 4. “ Do you know what always keeps me interested? ’’ said Patricia, the secretary, as she tidied up the surgery before departing. “Interested in what?” I asked vaguely from the depths of my case cards. “Interested in this work, I mean,” said Patricia. • “Are you interested? ” I said, suddenly putting down my pen and looking at her intently. “Of course,” she said. “ Otherwise, why should I. stay here? ” “ Well,” I said, “what is it? Let’s have it.”

The hursting-with-jollity-aiid-cnorgy, talk-to-anyoue type of person, who is quickly susceptible to the impressions and opinions going on round him, is quite a different sort of child to manage. He has to bo given plenty to do, he wants plenty of exercise, and mentally he has to be guided along the path to independence of thought. He has to learn the hard lesson of self-control. As compensation, he will be a social success more often than not, and a good showman, publicly or privately. He has to avoid getting the “ smart Alec ” look. In brief, he' must recognise that he is too emphatically an extrovert.

Human nature is too complex to he typed with perfection. Most of us are mixtures, and we have to recognise what is introvert and what is extrovert. ami make what amendments we think wise.

Tuesday, October 1. “I’m always having to take medicine,” was Mrs Lycllsmi’s not unusual complaint when I inquired into her general health this morning. “What’s tho best thing for me?” “ Let’s have a talk about your daily diet first,” I said, and it was revealed that Mrs Lyel'lson doesn’t like fruit, and “ has a bit of lettuce now and again.” “ It’s an old story now,” I said. V But let’s start at the probable cause

“It’s just people,” she said. “ They’re all so interesting. They’re all so different, and yet I don’t suppose there are more than half a dozen types.”

Names in this Diary are fictitious. (Copyright.)