Over six decades ago I had done my MBBS and was appointed as a Registrar in Medicine. As a Registrar I was expected to take the complete history of the patient and present the case to the Chief on his morning round. We had a case with continuous fever for over three months. The chief had Brucella in his mind, for which a carrier could be goat's milk.

The Chief asked me, "Have you asked the patient if he has been taking goat's milk?"
I sheepishly replied, "No, Sir".
Then the Chief said, "I will tell you how to take a thorough history of a patient".
The Chief asked the patient,"Kya aap ko doodh peenay ka shawk hai?.
The patient replied, "Doctor Sahib, mujhe to apni maa ka doodh bhi naseeb nahi hua".
Hearing this the Chief moved on to the next bed, and the ward round continued.


A Lesson In Humility

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), the 16th President of the USA was once travelling in the country-side. A labourer on the roadside wished him time, and bowed his head in respect. Lincoln responded and bowed even more than the poor labourer. The Aide with the President asked Lincoln as to why did he bow so low to the poor and petty labourer being the President of the USA?

Lincoln replied,"I do not want him to exceed me in humility".