A Concentrated Surgical Experience
Now part of the intern establishment Morris Hirsch succeeded to a surgical post, also in the Non-European Hospital, for the customary six months.
Now part of the intern establishment, Morris Hirsch succeeded to a surgical post, also in the Non-European Hospital, for the customary six months. It was one of the less prized appointments but had the compensation of concentrated direct surgical experience. The Sunday intake was a mass of trauma from personal and tribal violence, motor and other accidents.
He never went to bed on Sunday. These admissions would engage him until Monday night. Tuesday's intake was mainly of disease and surgical disabilities and non-traumatic emergencies. He could catch his breath on Wednesday. Thursday was the planned 'cold' operation list. Without assistants or registrars, it was a solo load, in excess of a seventy hour week.
At least one of the Consultant Chiefs attended the Friday ward round, when Morris would be accountable for actions and results. Otherwise, calls to them were expected only when really needed. As often as not, they qualified their advice with reassurance that he could cope and to call again if he landed in difficulties. Deep satisfactions were balanced by worry. Such opportunity would certainly be the envy of houseman (interns) of today. It was very different from the European section of the firm, where Consultants' reputations were to be made.
The free rein he enjoyed however had its limits. A Chief expected to be kept informed of major exploits and his encouragements were not to be taken for granted. In any event, the theater sister exercised a watchful eye that one did not get beyond oneself. Pretty and petite, she was deceptively charming: not to be trifled with, ever bent on keeping housemen in place and students toeing the line. But Morris won priority in theatre use and her valuable assistance. On the other hand, she had no compunction in reporting a too bold houseman, with the threat that she was not prepared to be party to escapades.
An ambitious, capable and confident surgical houseman, early on in his appointment, tackled a lower limb amputation, a splenectomy and a large bowel resection in one week without any reference to a consultant! That was not to be tolerated even though he was completely successful. His services were summarily terminated.
He promptly left for Edinburgh where he speedily passed his FRCS (the recognized surgical specialty degree). He moved on to become a surgeon of international repute and later President of the International College of Surgeons. The juniors marveled at his audacity as much as his skill. South Africa's loss was Britain's gain: a forerunner of a long string of brilliant South Africans to invade and succeed in the wider medical world, contributing to the enviable reputation of South African doctors during WWII and post-war medical resettlement.
The historical novel Whitewashed Jacarandas and its sequel Full of Possibilities are both available on Amazon as paperbacks and eBooks.
These books are inspired by Diana's family's experiences in small town Southern Rhodesia after WWII.
Dr. Sunny Rubenstein and his Gentile wife, Mavourneen, along with various town characters lay bare the racial arrogance of the times, paternalistic idealism, Zionist fervor and anti-Semitism, the proper place of a wife, modernization versus hard-won ways of doing things, and treatment of endemic disease versus investment in public health. It's a roller coaster read.
References:
Excerpt from Dr. Morris Isaac Hirsch's Unpublished Memoirs. Hirsch Archives.
Photo: https://johannesburg1912.com/2016/01/02/hospital-hill-old-suburb-between-braamfontein-hillbrow/