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ANGUS BERNARD GILLIS
 
AN APPENDICITIS STORY.

    Appendicitis can be difficult to diagnose, and when my father was practicing, blood tests to determine white-call count were still in the future. Nevertheless a well-trained doctor had his ways of deciding if surgery was warranted in a case of persistent abdominal pain.
ANGUS BERNARD GILLIS
 

    In this particular story the conversation between my father and a certain Dr. Porter went something like this:
Angus' Office: (Phone rings.)
    ANGUS: Dr. Gillis here.
    DR. PORTER: Oh good! You're in! Doctor, I have a patient, an older woman, with a hot case of appendicitis; at least I'm quite sure that's what's wrong with her. Pain in the abdomen, she says she's been hurting for hours. I plan to operate.
    ANGUS: Is she nauseated?
    DR. PORTER: Uh. . .she didn't mention that.
    ANGUS: How about fever?
    DR. PORTER: Well no. . .actually her temperature is a bit below normal.
    ANGUS: Is she doubled up?
    DR. PORTER: Doubled up?
    ANGUS: Yes. Doctor, I mean not comfortable stretched out. . .Would you like me to take a look at her?
    DR. PORTER: Actually I was going to ask you to assist me. I'm calling from the hospital.
    ANGUS: Oh. . .you're already there!
    DR. PORTER: (testily) Yes. I think this is an emergency, doctor!
    ANGUS: I'm on my way.
    In the washroom adjoining the surgery Angus scrubbed, and donned a gown. In the surgery he found Dr. Porter bending anxiously over the patient, who was turning her head from side to side in her distress.
    DR. PORTER: Would you see what you think, Doctor?
Angus moved closer and lifted back the sheet, and then her gown, saying as he did so, "I'm going to try to locate the pain in your abdomen. Just breathe in and out naturally. Try to relax." He pressed his hand slowly and deeply over the area. "Tell me when it hurts" he said. She whimpered for a bit, and finally
cried out in desperation, "Oh, Doctor, it hurts all over!"
    ANGUS: (with a sigh) Let me have your stethoscope, Doctor.
    Dr. Porter handed it to him, and Angus listened attentively at different spots of her abdomen. Just as he was saying "I hear a lot of rumbling," the welcome sound of gas escaping broke through gustily. Angus said, "Well, there's your answer, Doctor," and turning to the somewhat embarrassed lady on the table, he said cheerfully, "What a relief, eh? No operation! I'm sure you'll be just fine, now, my dear."

    This was one of many incidents of malpractice. All trades and professions were coming West in those early days, and Salem, Oregon was an attractive, friendly town with a lot of room for growth; hence there were sure to be doctors who had no right to practice medicine: poorly trained, some who had no degree at all, just a shingle and an eagerness to set up practice.
    It had reached the point where something must be done for the safety and welfare of the people of Salem: Medical Licensing!
    Angus, with his colleagues' support, soon found himself explaining to the Governor and his staff that a medical Examining board was imperative.
    Agreed upon and established, this was one of the first of its kind in the country. Exit any would-be doctors, who could not produce a bona fide diploma from an accepted medical school, and then pass oral exams before the Medical Examining Board.
 
NEXT: BEN'S NOSE
 
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