anonymous

17th September 2018

A Matter of Faith (5)

A MATTER OF FAITH (5)

DR N.H. ANTIA

As a young schoolboy in Thane, the monthly visit of Dr Moos to our home was an important event. He combined a social tete-a-tete with my grandfather together with an enquiry about the health of all the members of the large joint family. Though advice for minor health problems was sought and readily given, it was far from the house visit of a modern-day clinician.There was no monetary exchange a social and medical visit was always blurred, unless the doctor was called of a specific ailment as when my uncle suffered from typhoid, a disease to which he succumbed in the prime of his life even though he was nursed with loving care by his sister (my mother) at home under the twice daily visits and instructions of Dr Moos; so different from the impersonal hospital and ICU of today. Though recompensed for his medical attention, the loss was felt as much by Dr Moos as by the family. Dr Moos enjoyed the respect and love of the rich as well as the poor.