They Just Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore
Admit it, ladies: If this man weren't 96 years old--and recently deceased--we'd all be fighting over him. John Chesshire, who has died aged 96, was awarded an MC while serving as Medical Officer in the Burma Campaign.
Read the whole obituary, but really savor the three glorious penultimate paragraphs:
When the missionary in him emerged once more, he set off for Borneo. On one occasion, on a trip into the jungle to attend someone who was ill, he experienced severe stomach pains. A self-diagnosis confirmed his fears. He had acute appendicitis and he was the only medical practitioner for many miles.
He did, however, have a medical orderly with him whom he instructed to set up a primitive operating table with a mirror over it. Chesshire then gave himself a large dose of local anesthetic and, with the aid of the mirror, proceeded to guide the orderly through an operation to remove the appendix.
He retired from farming in the late 1970s but continued to practise medicine and enjoyed fishing into old age. An accomplished fly fisherman, when his legs were not strong enough to support him, he would tie himself to a tree to avoid falling into the water. Geology was another absorbing interest and he achieved some striking results using boot polish to make paintings of rock formations.
Thanks to Pootergeek for calling this to my attention.
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Jun '10
Re: They Just Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore
This is a guy I'd like to have known.
The operation reminds me of the scene in one of the Aubrey-Maturin books (which was made part of Master and Commander), in which Dr. Maturin operates on himself.
They say true fly fishermen are nuts (in a good way). This is just one more piece of evidence.
Jun '10
Re: They Just Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore
It's hard to be heroic if you don't have your own heroes, real or literary. That's probably what's missing today. Anti-heroes don't quite do it.
Dec '10
Re: They Just Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore
You're right. They just don't make them any more. If they did, we wouldn't be in such a mess.
Equally in a class by himself, my Dad, who was also accorded the honor of a terrific Telegraph obituary.
Oct '11
Re: They Just Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore
What? You've never done surgery on yourself in a jungle?
Oct '10
Re: They Just Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore
Well above the norm as it were. There was an stern minded fellow not long ago that found himself pinned by a rockfall in the middle of you know where. To survive, he amputated his leg with a pocketknife, sans anesthetic. And lived to be rescued.
Folks at large today tend to roll over and assume the fetal position if the power supply on their cell phone or whatever pad fails.
Perhaps there is point Darwin made that has been overlooked here.
Aug '10
Re: They Just Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore
There was a doctor in St.Joseph (where I live) named Jacob Geiger who directed the amputation of his own leg using assistants and a large mirror. It's a great local story and very close to yours, I imagine the conditions were quite different from Borneo . Now Borneo makes me think of Orde Wingate, who certainly stands alone . A "Friend of Israel" , the hero of the Irriwaddy, and Defender of Ethiopia. His story is one of my favorites. His surgical skills pretty limited as a Scots son of a preacher, but he did try once to cut his own head off in a malarial induced fit of insanity.
Edited on Jan 4 at 4:08pmSep '10
Re: They Just Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore
These men are rare, and we only find out about them when they rise to serve their country in a dark hour.
Men like this:
Dec '10
Re: They Just Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore
Thanks Claire, we need to remember people of this caliber.
Nov '10
Re: They Just Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore
Here's another thrilling example, but without an orderly!
http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b4965.full
(Note for the squeamish: there are pictures.)
"Rogozov’s self operation was probably the first such successful act undertaken in the wilderness, out of hospital settings, with no possibility of outside help, and without any other medical professional around. It remains an example of determination and the human will for life. In later years Rogozov himself rejected all glorification of his deed. When thoughts like these were put to him, he usually answered with a smile and the words:
“A job like any other, a life like any other."
May '10
Re: They Just Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore
She: You're right. They just don't make them any more. If they did, we wouldn't be in such a mess.
Equally in a class by himself, my Dad, who was also accorded the honor of a terrific Telegraph obituary. · Jan 4 at 1:52pm
My hat's off to your father. He, along with Mssrs. Chesshire, Maturin, and Jackson, sound like the type of Brits who have long inspired post-Revolutionary Americans with their courage, stoicism and wit.
Also, I once again marvel at the quality of British obituaries. Eulogies, too, if many are like the one John Cleese delivered for Graham Chapman.
Dec '10
Re: They Just Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore
Ottoman Umpire
She: You're right. They just don't make them any more. If they did, we wouldn't be in such a mess.
Equally in a class by himself, my Dad, who was also accorded the honor of a terrific Telegraph obituary. · Jan 4 at 1:52pm
My hat's off to your father. He, along with Mssrs. Chesshire, Maturin, and Jackson, sound like the type of Brits who have long inspired post-Revolutionary Americans with their courage, stoicism and wit.
Also, I once again marvel at the quality of British obituaries. Eulogies, too, if many are like the one John Cleese delivered for Graham Chapman. · Jan 4 at 6:24pm
Thank you. The world is certainly a smaller (and much quieter) place without Dad in it.
I've thought for years that Mark Steyn is the current nonpareil for obituaries, and was very tickled when he picked up Dad's write-up several years ago, mentioning the story of the fellow who ate the tax collector under the intriguing headline "A practical solution to big government," in The Corner.
Re: They Just Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore
She: You're right. They just don't make them any more. If they did, we wouldn't be in such a mess.
Equally in a class by himself, my Dad, who was also accorded the honor of a terrific Telegraph obituary. · Jan 4 at 1:52pm
Amazing, what a subject for a member-feed reminiscence! I'm sure everyone here would love to know more about your father--and who better-qualified than you to write it? Would you consider it?