set-up as well as I do. Quite often, I feel, bad ear troubles could be prevented by regular weekly attendance at the . Clinic, and constant supervision. I expect you have the [ same troubles as I do patients consider their troubles are ; 57 over, and stop attending, with the result that in many cases the trouble breaks out all over again through neglect of treatment. If you can persuade them to come, even when it seems there is no need, we shall help keep down the number of chronic cases and quite a large number of operative cases, too. Actually I have been doing a bit of research of late, which I'd like to talk over with you. It all arose out of a rather unusual case of deafness in a young child. We tried all the usual tests with no response from the patient, and then rather to our astonishment, we found that as soon as the child's mother went out of the room, the child's hearing seemed to be perfectly normal! I got in'touch with Hadnot you know of him, of course and he was very interested. He agreed with me that it, might well be sympathetic deafness a type of hysterias-it had all the earmarks of a psychiatric case. But test after test proved disappointing. We decided it might need shock treatment, and so " Sally, unaware of the intense absorption on her small, eager face, leaned forward, her eyes never wavering from the man's equally absorbed face. The doctors at the table, having finished their coffee, glanced over in some amusement, and then, went on their way. Sally and Chesfield, however, did not even notice their going they were far too wrapped up in one another. Chesfield talked on fluently, animatedly, and then, as he paused. Sally blurted out eagerly: "We had a somewhat similar case in Doctor's Clinic, and in this case it was the child's father who seemed to influence the little boy's hearing. I decided it was the father who needed treatment more than the child, and persuaded him to visit our Dr. Martin. It was a very long job, but in the end we helped the child by the very simple expedient of forming a new relationship between the father and son. I still visit them, occasionally, just to check up." "And there have been no relapses?" "One," she admitted swiftly, oblivious of the coffee which was rapidly cooling at her elbow, "but it was very temporary. It happened when the father had a rather heated argument with his wife the child was scared, and he be came deaf almost immediately. That took weeks to put right... ." She talked on, and he watched her. Sometimes he nodded in agreement, once or twice he intemipted sharply, disagreeing. Finally, when she stopped short, embarrassed by her long speech, he leaned back in his chair and regarded her triumphantly. "What did I tell you?" he demanded happily. "What a team we'll make, you and I, Sister. The Thursday Clinic is bound to succeed you mark my words !' For almost an hour they talked, discussing their future plans, exchanging previous experiences, and then at last, when they had discovered the time, they parted reluctantly, he to go on to another case. Sally to go home to an anxious Mrs. Grant. "You're late," she announced, with unusual ill humour. I ve kept your supper so long it's all spoiled." Sally apologized, so pleased with life herself that she wanted everyone to share her happiness. "I may be, late quite frequently in future," she added mischievously. "I've been put in charge of the Thursday Clinic, Grantie how do you like that?" Mrs. Grant raised her thin eyebrows inquiringly. 'J5"'4 lt more a q stion of how the patients wilUike it.'_ she. asked sourly. "Anyway, you've always been in the Umic, or at least for a long time past. What's different about it? "Simply that it will be my sole occupation from now on,' Salty explained. "There will be a Clinic every day but Thursday will be Mr. Chesfield's visiting day. All 'the rest of the time I shall be in full charge, Grantie with a nurse working for me!" "And what about Dr. Trenton?" Sally frowned, regarding the plump'woman with some exasperation. "Just where does Dr. Trenton come into the picture?" Mrs. Grant shrugged. "Thafs exactly what I wanted to know," she announced flatly And no doubt it's just what the poor man himself would like to know, too. Did I mention that he's been 59 round here at least three times this evening, looking for you?" "No, you didn't." Sally's tone was sharp. I'm sorry, of course, but Dr. Trenton fully understands that one cannot help being kept late at the hospital occasionally. What did he want?" "He didn't say." Sally, realizing that there was little hope of infecting Mrs. Grant with' her own excitement, went up to her own room. She went to the window, as usual, and stood staring across at the hospital. As she watched, she saw Alan Trenton come out of the main doors and cross the yard to the X-ray department. Even from such a distance he looked tired, and his shoulders slumped wearily. In spite of herself, Sally felt a guilty wish that she had not given him three fruitless journeys. But'surely Alan would understand? A young nurse came out of the X-ray department and ran after Alan. Sally, watching curiously, frowned a little, trying to recognize the girl who was now talking earnestly to the young doctor. The girl was obviously upset, for Sally could see her twisting her apron nervously, and once the doctor put a hand on her arm, as if to reassure her. Then, as the girl turned, Sally recognized Janie Frensham,a v ty. young nurse to whom Sally had taken a deep liking from their very first meeting. She drew back from the window, her lips smiling as she recalled that meeting. She had been coming down the corridor towards the men's surgical, and suddenly a very agitated nurse had rushed out from the ward, had collided with Sally, and dropped a tray of instruments with a clatter which could surely have been heard from one end of the hospital to the other. Sally could still remember the look of absolute 'horror that had transfixed the girl's face. For a split second they had stood staring at one another, and then the ward door had opened and a crimson-faced ward sister had taken in the incident at a glance. "Not again, Nurse Frensham!" she cried helplessly. "This really is the end. I've known some ham-fisted nurses SeZo'MatSn one quite so as J m firmV ' sister'" sally had found herself-saying Sam T 1? to blame- I am the one' not Nurse sSl l aot oklag where I was g01 ' and ked iTme with y fof a few miQU T15!1"'0 h never S0' the incident. Sally, n7? embarrassment, and then to her amuse rnent, found herself with a devoted slave-a young dark girl who obviously looked upon Sally as her guardian "You'll regret it," one of the nurses had teased Sally, when she saw Jame's devotion. She'll get you into more rows than you can tolerate, you mark my words Janie is one of those unfortunates who are born awkward!" But Sally had seen more to Janie than her awkwardness and nervousness Happening to work beside the girl one day, in the children's Ward, she had been at first surprised and then deeply moved by the girl's innate patience and tenderness with her small charges. During the afternoon she had certainly spilled a jug of milk and broken a thermometer, but she had also succeeded, when everyone else had failed, in consoling a broken-hearted two-year-old who had been parted from his mother for the first time in his life, and was crying himself sick in consequence. Later still. Sally had seen the girl bring reassurance to a scared little chap whose eyes had tc be bandaged for at least a week and who had been almost hysterical until Janie took him in hand. Herself a good nurse with children these traits had registered themselves in Sally's mind, and now, coming back to her, made her see new possibilities in Janie. She knew well that Matron was far from pleased with Janie, that she would not be kept on at Merry's very much longer unless she improved. If she could express a definite wish for Janie to work with her, might not Matron be persuaded that the girl was of some use to the hospital after all? Matron, approached on the subject, looked at Sally keenly. 61 "Nurse Frensham is a disappointment to me, to all of us," she said calmly. "One cannot be sentimental in such a matter as this, Sister Marthorpe, as I am sure you must realize. Of all the nurses from which you can choose, why pick on Nurse Frensham? You are not allowing friendship to sway you in your choice, I trust?" "Janie Frensham is my friend," Sally admitted slowly. "but I also believe she would be a real asset to the younger patients in the Clinic. I would be very grateful if youSrould allow her a trial if she wishes to come, of course." Matron allowed herself a slight sniff of derision. "She'll wish to come all right," she said shortly. "She probably knows she hasn't much option if she wishes to stay on at all. I'll give her a month, Sister but I want an honest report at the end of that time. You owe that not only to the hospital, but to Mr. Ches
field." Janie told of this decision, eyed Sally with something approaching awe. Then, somewhat to Sally's discomfiture, the girl's eyes filled with tears, and she put a timid hand on Sally's arm. "I'm not going to try to thank you," she said shakily, "but I'll work myself to a 'standstill, Sister, I promise. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you, honestly. I'll make you'glad you gave me this opportunity, you see!" True to her word, Janie Frensham certainly seemed to pull l herself together during the first days of the new Clinic. Sally, on the first day, entered the familiar waitingroom with a feeling of wonderment. Quite unconsciously she walked with her chin held higher than before, her slender shoulders squared. This was her own small world, from now on, and her word was law. It was an intoxicating thought, and one of the older patients, surveying the slim figure neatly dad in royal blue, with a white cap perched on the flaxen hair, rubbed his head thoughtfully. "What's amiss with Sister today, do you suppose?" he asked his neighbor. "Somehow she looks taller, older, don't she? Don't know as I care for this new stunt of a woman giving me treatment. Fair painful it is, when they does my ears. Old Tring was bad enough lawks knows what the girl will be like. I knew a chap what had to have 62 his ears syringed by a girl, and he says she burst into tears in the end because she couldn't shift the wax, bless you! Had to fetch the man doctor, and he didn't half tell her off, too. Got no time for women in this job mysdf don't seem natural, no matter how you looks at it." ... But an hour later, coming out of Sally's room, the man looked definitely sheepish. He grinned toothlessly at his companion, and winked. "Not so bad," he admitted in a hoarse whisper which carried right back through the door he had come. "Didn't hurt much neither and I can hear a treat now. So long see you next week, mate." As the days passed it became increasingly obvious that the newly run Clinic was satisfying not only the hospital, but the majority of the patients, too. Some of the older men still complained bitterly at being treated by "a mere slip of a girl," but after one or two visits even the old men had to admit that Sister Marthorpe knew how to handle even the most obstreperous patient. Janie, too, was soon being haled gladly by young and old, and, as her main task was that of placating small children when Sally had to examine or treat them, she was' soon proving herself most helpful. True, her dreadful habit of dropping things did not entirely disappear, but away from the ever-watchful and critical eye of Day Sister and Matron, .the nervous young girl seemed to take on a new lease of'life, much to Sally's delight. Thursday was the red-letter day of the Clinic, for it was on this day that Laurence Chesfield came and saw all his patients, checked up on their progress, and diagnosed any new entries!. The first Thursday was one to be dreaded, ina way, for Sally had no knowledge'of how her progress was being checked by the surgeon, but after an hour he turned to her with obvious satisfaction. "It's working beyond my wildest hopes. Sister," he told her quietly. "You have them eating out of your hand. I hear nothing but praise of your abilities from each patient." After that, each day seemed happier and more satisfying than the one before. Growing in confidence and skill, Sally took on a new dignity, and, to Mrs. Grant's somewhat bewildered eyes, she appeared to be at least five years older. "Afore you know it you'll be an old woman!" she cried one evening when Sally brought a book on ear diseases to the supper-table. "Look at you, for pity's sake, sitting there with your nose stuck in that disgusting book! You should be out with a young man, enjoying your pretty self, not sitting here, evening after evening, wasting your life " "Not exactly wasting my life," Sally protested patiently, one finger keeping the place in her book. "You seem to forget that the Clinic is my life, Grantie." "Rubbish!" Mrs. Grant's voice was rough with contempt. "I know just what the attraction is at the Clinic, young lady, same as everybody else at Merry's " She broke off, seeing Sally's sudden stiffening. "What, exactly, is that remark supposed to mean?" Mrs. Grant, looked uncomfortable. She fidgeted with the knives and forks, and did not answer. "Well?" Sally asked curtly. "Just what does everybody at Merry's know, Mrs. Grant?" The plump woman shrugged her massive shoulders. "It's none of my business," she admitted rather truculently, "but it's common gossip that you're not only keen on your job. It's only a joke, of course," she added hurriedly, as Sally's eyes narrowed angrily. "Then it's a joke in pretty poor taste," Sally snapped, pushing back her chair impatiently. "And I'm surprised at you repeating it, Grantie. I admire Mr. Chesfield with all my heart, and I don't mind who knows it. That is as far as it goes, believe me," "But your supper, dearie " Mrs. Grant began anxiously. "I don't want any, thank you." Mrs. Grant's eyes softened, as she watched Sally walk briskly upstairs, and then. heard her bang her bedroom door behind her. She went back into the dining-room and began to dear the table, shaking her head miserably as she did so. Upstairs, Sally, sat on her bed, her book forgotten. She felt strangely sick, although she had eaten nothing. Look64 ing down at her hands, she was surprised to find them shaking badly. But, for heaven's sake, surely she had more sense than to. allow a foolish old woman's gossip to upset her? The hospital any hospital was a hot-bed of gossip and it wasn't surprising that her name was being playfully linked with Mr. Chesfield's so why should she be so up. set about it? It would be different if it were true. She found, to her horror, that tears were filling her eyes. Thoroughly annoyed with herself by this time, she went to the bathroom and sponged her face in cold water, hoping to shock herself back to a more sensible frame of mind. She had been working too hard that must be it. Only that afternoon Matron had informed her she had a free day due to her, and she had refused to take it. Well, maybe this was a warning that she mustn't do without holidays, however much she loved her work. The work was what mattered, of course and if she neglected her own health, the work must suffer, and then Laurence Chesfield would be disappointed in her. That must never happen. .'. . By morning, Sally felt better, and the work at the Clinic went smoothly until the late afternoon, when a small patient was brought in by an obviously irate and truculent mother. The boy had been a patient in the hospital only a week before, and had had his tonsils removed. No sooner did the child catch sight of the trolley of instruments than he stiffened in his mother's arms let out a howl of fear and anger, and refused to allow Sally to touch him. His mother, a large untidy woman, eyed Sally rebelliously. "And can you wonder he's frightened to death of you, poor lamb?" she demanded indignantly. "Scarce out of this 'wretched hospital, and him hollering with pain night after night! I told the doctor when I fetched him that he wasn't in no fit state to be at home, but would he listen to me? Not on your life! These doctors fair make me sick they do, thinking they know better than the child's own mother, if you please! I said to Dr. Trenton myself, I said. 'If that child comes home now, he'll be back in hospital within a fortnight, you mark my words,' I said. But you know these doctors. Sister nobody don't know anything except themselves, if you gets my meaning?" Sally motioned to Janie, who was watching the scene with a mingling of annoyance and amusement. She came at once to the child and tried to coax him into a better frame of mind. As the din died down slightly. Sally tried to answer the mother. "I am quite sure that Dr. Trenton would not have given the boy a clean bill of health had he known the slightest cause why a day or two more in hospital would be an advantage, Mr. Morris. Tell me, when did this pain start , and where does it seem to be?" "How would I know?" the woman retorted scornfully. "Just howls perpetual, that's all I know. Won't let me look at his throat, poor lamb I never did hold with all this modern surgery stuff,, myself. If the dear Lord gave us tonsils, I say, he must have meant them to stay put. Never had my tonsils out, nor did my husband. Lot of new-fangled notions, if you ask me. ..." Sally resisted the impulse to tell the woman a few hometruths, and once more tried to coax the child to open his mouth. Janie, with her usual dexterity with children, had picked up a woollen toy from the children's shelf, and had succeeded in interesting him slightly. In the lull. Sally could see that his little face was not only tear-blotched but definitely swollen. "Has he had mumps?" she inquired quietly. The woman stiffened. "That's a silly remark, if you don't mind me saying
so, Sister! How could the poor lamb get mumps and me looking after him night and day ever since he set foot outside this place? Unless" her small eyes narrowed in sudden suspicion "you don't suppose he has picked up something in here, do you? I've heard tell of children who come into these places hale and hearty and go out full of infection. I knew a child, once, who caught measles the day he got into hospital; fair crying shame I reckon " Sally sighed praying for patience. "Mrs. Morris," she said. firmly, "I am quite sure you have heard of many cases for the very simple reason that 66 children are exposed to infection everywhere in the streets, in buses at school in the parks in Sunday school even in hospital. We have no way of proving that every child who enters the hospital is one hundred per cent free of infection, and naturally we cannot guarantee that any such child will not .spread the infection fo others. It would be a mirade of medicine if we could prevent infection amongst children but I think I can assure you that your little boy has not got mumps. If you could persuade him to open his mouth a little? There may be a slight irritation which is upsetting him." The child refused his mother's cajoling, but when Janie added her persuasion he suddenly opened his mouth to its fullest extent thus affording -Sally an excellent chance of looking,down his throat with her pencil light. She frowned, then pursed her lips slightly. "Looks healthy enough" she admitted slowly. "I wonder ... it could be infection of the tubes these run from the throat to the ears, you know. Sometimes we get a touch of sympathetic pain in the ears " The mother clicked her tongue impatiently shifting from one foot to the other and surveying Sally with unconcealed contempt. "Sympathetic pain, indeed!" she cried indignantly. "Precious little sympathy about it the poor darling is in real pain I'll have you know, and I think your doctor should be ashamed " Whilst the mother was talking Sally had had a chance to examine the exposed ear, and what she saw made her wrinkle her brow in some dismay. She looked across at Janie and raised her eyebrows significantly. "I'd like Dr. Trenton to see the boy," she began quietly. "After all Billy was his patient " "You're right to say 'was'," the woman exdaimed shortly. "I don't intend to have that man messing about with my boy again, you can take my word for that, Sister. You just tell me what's wrong and I'll do whatever you say, short of leaving him here. My husband said not to leave him under any conditions, no matter what you say. You 67 can't force me to leave him, you know I happen to know that, so don't think you can persuade me " "I can't persuade anybody to stay, or to leave a child, against his or her will," Sally complied patiently, but I am not satisfied with the appearance of the boy's ear, Mrs. Morris. It might be a small boil it might be something much worse. I don't think for one moment this present trouble has any connection whatsoever with the extraction of tonsils. But I would urge to allow either Dr. Trenton or Mr. Chesfield to see the boy at once. I could phone either of them, and they would come immediately. If you would wait " " The mother's face flushed dully. "I'm not waiting, and I'm not seeing any doctor," she dedared stubbornly. "I've had enough trouble as it is he was all right before they persuaded me*to have his tonsils out. Fair made a mess of him, you have, between the lot of you. Bed's the best place for him, and his Mum with him, poor lamb. I'll warm some oil that's a good old remedy for ear-ache." "Mrs. Morris" Sally put a hand on the woman's arm in pleading "promise me you will do nothing whatever to that ear until I have talked to Dr. Chesfield? It was he, I believe, who first advised the removal of Billy's tonsils? Surely you can trust such a man to know what is better for the child? I have your address, and I promise to come round to tell you what he suggests, as soon as I have spoken to him. Until then, no oil, please! And don't give him any food for the next hour or two, until I have seen you again, just in case " "In case of what?" demanded the woman, scared by Sally's earnestness. "You're not hinting at any more ops are you? Because I'm tdling you he-re and now, my husband won't agree to it, understand? Angry enough about the tonsils he was, and I don't wonder. We happen to love our boy only one-we've got. Sister. We can't stand him being hurt any more -" "Sdmetimes one has to hurt in order to heal," Sally explained patiently. "No doctor likes to cause pam, Mrs. 68 Morris. Many of them have children of their own, yon ' know, so they do understand " "Only my Billy doesn't happen to he their own," Mrs. Morris objected violently. "But I'll do as you say, Sister I'll not use the oil until I see you. But if you ask me, you're making a lot of fuss about nothing. Most children have ear-ache, some time or another." Sally watched the affronted woman go through the surgery door, and then, spreading her hands in a gesture of absolute weariness, she shook her head at Janie. "As soon as I've seen the remaining patients, I'll phone Dr. Chesfield," she said decisively. "I don't like the look of thai- ear, nurse. Has the appearance of an abscess in the middle ear I must have expert opinion on it as soon as possible. Are there many more to come in?" Janie Frensham frowned protestingly. "You're just about whacked!" she said inelegantly. "Let me get you a cup of tea before you see another soul! There's no point in ruining your own health just to save these people a few minutes of waiting. Just five minutes' break, Sister, and then you'll be more fit to carry on " "Thank you, nurse," Sally said with unconsdous sharpness, "I do not take time off on duty." Janie drew back, her small face flushing hotly. It was a very warm afternoon, and her dark curls, beneath the small white cap, dung limply to her forehead. '.,. "Sorry, Sister," she said formally. "I was only trying to help." Sally, shaken by the discovery she thought she had made regarding the little boy's ear, did not even notice the girl's look of discomfiture. . - "If you're trying to help," she said severely, "why not r make more cotton-wool swabs, nurse? We are short of I crepe bandaging, too and gauze. I expect you to lay in | sufficient supplies before each suregry, you know."| The little nurse turned away, her eyes filled with tears. JJShe, too, had had a long and tiring afternoon and as |feeling the strain. Sally's remarks, the first unkind wordsi|she had spoken to the girl, brought back all the sense of jjfailure which Janie had been trying to shake off. When the surgery was finally ended, and the waitingroom cleaned up, Sally let her head rest on her hands, and heaved a sigh of deep relief. She could not remember when she had felt so exhausted, but it had been a good day, a day of work well and truly performed. Laurence would be pleased , . . She whispered his name to herself gently, remembering his kindly smile, the way his eyes seemed to darken when he was interested in something. Soon she would hear his voice, and then he would come round to, discuss Billy's case together. He would show his usual 'flattering concern for her opinion, and then he .would advise further action; perhaps he would take her round to the Morris's house in his car, and interview these difficult parents. Nurse Frensham came to the door of the office and stood there for a moment, unnoticed. There was a look deep unhappiness in the girl's dark eyes, and, when Sally made no move to look at her, she went away quietly dosing the door behind her. After a time. Sally roused herself and picked up the phone. She asked for Chesfield's home number, and waited, idly scribbling on the pad before her. After an interval, a woman's voice spoke, and Sally asked for the surgeon. "It's Sister Marthqrpe here," she added simply. "May I speak to Mr. Chesfield? It is important concerning a recent patient at the hospital." "I'm sorry," the voice told her calmly, "Mr. Chesfield is out just now but he will not be long, I think. Perhaps I could give a message?" Sally spoke slowly, clearly, outlining the case, and offering her own opinion as the new trouble. "Will you also tell Mr. Chesfield that I will wait here until he phones, and then, if necessary, discuss the matter more fully with him, or, alternatively, go round to the child's home and suggest further treatment?" From the other end of the .'line came a light laugh. "I'll do my best to get it right. Sister," the voice said frankly, "but I'm not awfully good at these things, you know. I'll certainly ask him to ring you, however, the moment he comes in." 70 "But" Sally was puzzled, a little irritated by the woman's extraordinary levity "I'm speaking to Mr. Chesfield's secretary, am I not?" The faintly teasing laugh came again, and the voice said casually, ' ' "Good heavens, no, my dear Miss Jameson is out too, or I wouldn't even att
empt to take down your message. I .am Mrs. Chesfield.. Don't worry I'll let my husband have your message the moment he returns."
The Thursday clinic Page 4
