“MIRACLE' MAN”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 May 1941, Page 3

“MIRACLE' MAN”

AIR FORCE DOCTOR AMONG NATIVES. BABY UNDER ANAESTHETIC. In the middle of a circle of anxious praying natives a young R.A.F. doctor performed an operation on a Sudanese baby and earned himself the reputation of “miracle man.” The baby was brought to him by the worried father, who tried to explain by signs that the little boy had something in his nostril. “I had a look,” the doctor said, “and saw that it was a little shell which the child had pushed up his nose. I tried to get it 'out, but realised that I should have to use an anaesthetic. I made signs of sleeping and so on. but when the father caught on he was hori rifled. “I think he thought I was going to kill the kid. Anyway ho took him away and came back with a whole crowd from his village, including the chief. His faith in the chief was amazing. When I explained the procedure to the chief the father stood by with anguished face while the chief made the decision. “The decision was that I should carry on, and the father, although I am sure he still thought I was about to kill his child, stood by without a murmur while I administered the anaesthetic. “There was I doling out stuff with the infant on a stretcher, while all around me stood a circle of natives. The father tried to pacify the child, who was crying, but I motioned him to one side. “As the anaesthetic took effect and the nipper fell asleep, the effect on the audience was amazing. They had never seen anything like it before, and all immediately went down on their knees and prayed. "I got the shell cut of the kid’s nose. When the child came out of his sleep the whole crowd closed in on me. laughing and gesticulating. “They took the baby away in triumph, and in the morning the chief rode up to the mess in great state and presented the corporal who helped and myself with two beautifully-work-ed daggers. Wo were very' bucked about it.”