How you make me feel; projection and its identification.
Why do we trust some people and not others? Why do we admire some people? Why do some people make us uncomfortable? Is it because they remind us of significant figures in our lives; our mother, our father, a brother or sister, a lover, a husband, wife, a teacher? Are they suitable objects for our projections? Projection is a ubiquitous feature of human nature. It is the cornerstone of evolution; what makes us human; the effect of an opposable thumb. As soon as we could throw, we could make things... Read more »
Chaos in the Bowels
Jules Henri Poincare (1854 – 1912) was in trouble. The most famous mathematician of his generation, he set himself the task of predicting accurately the orbits of the earth, moon and sun. His solution was brilliant. It was nominated for a prestigious international prize, but just before he was due... Read more »
Visionary or Disaster; a perspective on William Sargant
We don’t hear very much about William Sargant now, but in his day, he was the most eminent figure in British psychiatry, a large man with a leonine profile and convictions as strong as his character; somebody you obeyed and never argued with. David Owen, one time British foreign secretary,... Read more »
Dr Haggard’s Disease
It was 1937; and there was trouble on the horizon. They recognized each other at a funeral. There was a spark. Then they found they were sitting next to each other at the Cushing’s dinner party. He was Dr Edward Haggard, house surgeon at St Basil’s and a bit of... Read more »
How to keep your shape when all about are losing theirs; is there an answer to the obesity epidemic?
For the last twenty years, we have been getting noticeably fatter. Rates of obesity in America and Western Europe have more than doubled since the nineteen eighties. And the problem shows no sign of diminishing. If trends continue, it has been estimated by 2050, one in two adults and one... Read more »
Not so much a Dame as a Sheila!
I was the first candidate after lunch. I waited nervously outside sister's office. The lady arrived late and loud, flanked by two co-examiners, who were chuckling politely. She glanced at her clipboard and announced briskly; 'Now, Dr Read, examine this man's chest.' I carefully went through the procedure, inspection, palpation, percussion, auscult......... 'Hurry... Read more »
Doing things by the book; the flawed excellence of the new NHS.
I should have listened to her dentist. She cared enough to call me in London and tell me that the Xray had shown a small translucency around the root of the bottom right canine and there was a sinus pointing to the gum. 'Your mum will need that tooth out,'... Read more »
