Jack Thornton
Stitches of laughter
Published on Wed, Sep 1, 2010 by Jack ThorntonRead More Thornton
More than 40 years as a veterinarian and I've never required sutures for an animal bite until this August. With less than a month before final retirement, a red chow tasted the tip of my right ear removing a small quantity of skin. Because raw cartilage can be slow to heal, I elected a Friday night emergency room visit to see if suturing was advisable or even possible. Eight stitches later, I was home.
During the procedure Brad, the attending physician, upon learning I am a veterinarian, told me the following story assuring me that is absolutely true. It was related to him years ago during an internship.
The wife of a well-established veterinarian was having abdominal pains. After finding no remedy, she became convinced that her discomfort was due to a gallbladder problem.
Perhaps because of financial restraints, her husband assured her that he could safely remove the organ. Having helped him with surgeries must have reinforced her blind faith. So this crazy or bold animal doctor, you decide, anesthetized his wife and performed surgery on her.
After healing satisfactorily, she began having the same old abdominal discomfort but this time sought the opinion of a human doctor.
She gave her new physician a history of her condition mentioning her gallbladder removal but being careful to avoid the entire story. Her doctor noticed his patient's veterinarian husband nervously eying the floor during his wife's account. When at last they were alone, he confided to the doctor what really happened.
The fearless surgeon believed his wife's pains were psychosomatic so he made a simple skin incision over the proper area and then sutured up the incision without entering the abdomen. When her pain continued and things became more complicated, he thought it best to report that actually she still had her gallbladder.
The story appropriately enough ended there so I can't relate as to the final medical resolution or their marital status thereafter.
True story? I don't know, but my knowledge of the independent nature of some of the old-timers out there makes me wonder.
Veterinarian Jack Thornton retired in August.
During the procedure Brad, the attending physician, upon learning I am a veterinarian, told me the following story assuring me that is absolutely true. It was related to him years ago during an internship.
The wife of a well-established veterinarian was having abdominal pains. After finding no remedy, she became convinced that her discomfort was due to a gallbladder problem.
Perhaps because of financial restraints, her husband assured her that he could safely remove the organ. Having helped him with surgeries must have reinforced her blind faith. So this crazy or bold animal doctor, you decide, anesthetized his wife and performed surgery on her.
After healing satisfactorily, she began having the same old abdominal discomfort but this time sought the opinion of a human doctor.
She gave her new physician a history of her condition mentioning her gallbladder removal but being careful to avoid the entire story. Her doctor noticed his patient's veterinarian husband nervously eying the floor during his wife's account. When at last they were alone, he confided to the doctor what really happened.
The fearless surgeon believed his wife's pains were psychosomatic so he made a simple skin incision over the proper area and then sutured up the incision without entering the abdomen. When her pain continued and things became more complicated, he thought it best to report that actually she still had her gallbladder.
The story appropriately enough ended there so I can't relate as to the final medical resolution or their marital status thereafter.
True story? I don't know, but my knowledge of the independent nature of some of the old-timers out there makes me wonder.
Veterinarian Jack Thornton retired in August.
© 2009 Sequim Gazette. All rights reserved. 147 West Washington, Sequim, WA 98382 • 360.683.3311 • Email the Webmaster