LIBRARY Confessions of a Doctor CHAPTER I WHEN WE WERE YOUNG ALLOW me to give a few thumb-nail sketches of myself and a few friends. I went to Edinburgh to study medicine, after being coached specially for the preliminary examination. I did not feel in the least inclined to become a model student: I was to some extent interested in the subjects which I had to study, but I occupied myself with so many things in general that I could never approach anywhere near the exemplary. Indeed, I always looked upon an exemplary student as a most uninteresting narrow-minded, and one-sided specimen of humanity. I attended nearly all lectures, it is true, partly because I was interested, but also because I felt I ought to do so; but I was not inclined to spend much time over medical books. I liked to be left alone to study anything I chose; and what I liked best of all were "the affairs of men." my early student days I found so many opportunities for learning everything, including just a little medicine and surgery, that life in Edinburgh was to me most entrancing. Almost every pursuit appeared to be within my reach in this wonderful city. In the past, living in the country where I had had but a very few friends of my own temperament, and In only a limited supply of books from which I could extract any delight, I found few opportunities to do or learn anything, except a very little at school. As a student I learned the city of Edinburgh from Holyrood to beyond the Dean Bridge. I studied the people and their ways in a manner that would have brought me first-class honours in any examination on peculiarities of character and human disposition; I moved about everywhere and took everything in; but for quite a long time I never creaked a lounge chair or wore study coats for the sake of hard reading. After a year or two of a life of laissez-aller, however, I began to think of the future. I saw some of my friends developing successfully, others proving miserable failures, and I began to be alarmed. I decided to wean myself gradually from the world, the flesh, and the devil, and to begin to study. With increasing determination I plunged into work, creating no small astonishment in the minds of all who knew me well. worked and worked, flew through first and second examinations at lightning pace, only stopping now and then just to keep my health in order. Then I paused a week or two, before taking a plunge for the final examination, for which I decided I would work more than ever. Facing great odds once more, I now thoroughly loved the subjects of the final. I resolved to study them as well as ever my powers would allow me. At last I passed all examinations necessary and received my degree. I Now I beg to introduce a few friends of my student days, and I must do so rapidly, for I have a great many subjects to deal with afterwards. Some are now doctors, others not. Dr. Ralph Robinson is a good example of a man who won many medals as a student. He always looked pale and preoccupied, as you may see him now, and he had very few friends beyond other candidates for high places. He was the wonder of all the "wasters," and often gave them a shudder of shame |