Reminiscences

There was a talk given by Professor Sir David Todd at the Inauguration of the Medical History Interest Group. An abridged version of the talk appears in the Hong Kong Medical Journal, 2009 August, p. 315 - 319. Many of the quotes in this article prove illuminating. Interested readers should go to read the full text. I show you here a few:

"Those who live in the past are blind in one eye, but those who forget the past are blind in both eyes." (Therefore, please do not complain I write too much on history.)

"I do not wish to see your tonsils." (Professor AJS McFadzean's remark to a student who yawned in his tutorial.)

"Do you realize that while the diagnosis is the same, there can be major differences in the management of individuals depending on their previous health, coexisting disorders, genetic, family and social background ?"

"But by example, no medical school can teach a young person how to be understanding and caring. This can only come from the experience of life." (by Professor David Weatherall; I believe it was a remark on the teaching of medical ethics.)

"Example is not the main thing influencing others; it is the only thing."

PS. You think the last two citations contradict each other ? I follow example - please let me play god here.