Dr. Austin and Dr. Singaratnam

Hi All
Dr Austin not only a wild life enthusiast but also a keen
angler. He was the President of the Anglers Club. I had
the opportunity to meet him in 1968 when I was the acting
DMO Kalpitiya. He came to Kalpitiya with Anglers Club
members in his Austin gypsiy with the trailer caravan.
Some stayed in the rest house and others in their caravans
in the rest house compound. When they got up in the
morning found the water supply has run out and there will
be non till evening. The water supply of the DMO's
bungalow was their savior.
I had an opportunity to meet him again when he came to
Chilaw in his brand new orangy red Peugeot 404 to give a
talk to the Doctors there. After the talk we had dinner at
the doctors' quarter where Dr and Mrs Austin joined us.
When they were about to leave to Colombo Dr Austin
discovered that he has locked the keys of his brand new
Peugeot 404 in the car. It was late in the night and every
one was in a panic. I had a very old Morris Minor and the
key was so wasted it was like blade. With Dr Austin's
permission I tried to open the door lock with it and it
opened. The Austins were so happy that they could sleep in
their own bed that night.
  The two occasions I met him he was a totally different
person we knew as medical students - very friendly.
 This reminds me of another occasion. At the final exam
surgery viva Dr Niles an Dr Jeyasekera was on one table
and Dr Austin and Dr Anthonys were on the other table. The
viva started with Dr Niles and and Dr Jeyasekera. They
only asked one questions from all the candidates and none
gave the answer they wanted. Non of the candidates got any
marks. Dr Austin and Dr Anthonys who were observing this
gave full marks to all the candidates to counter balance.
Singaratnam

Austin - ‘Senioris Prioris’

            Dr. Austin was a big built surgeon, who reminded us of Sir Lanceolot Spratt, of Carry on Doctor Series fame. He literally terrified us, by his big voice and blustery manner. The students would be there for the appointment early, as he was a stickler for discipline. During the ward rounds, the surgeon and ward sister would lead the way, followed by the SHO, Intern and then the students would follow in order of protocol. If this order was broken there would be immediate censure.

            One day he was waiting for the lift with his retinue. When the cabin of the lift arrived, one of the impetuous students stepped hurriedly, to get into the lift. Dr.Austin put his hand out and grabbed the student by the collar, from behind. He then told him “Senioris Prioris”, and let him wait outside the lift, for the next trip of the cabin.

            He once threw one of our batches out for some misdemeanor. One of our unnamed batchmates, promised, to his disbelieving colleagues, that he would get matters rectified, by approaching Dr.Austin’s wife, through a third party. It was done and a relieved batch, restarted the appointment the following day.

                        I also have heard of an incident where a patient was being prepared for a spinal anaesthesia in the OT, for an appendicectomy. Seeing all the instruments, the patient got down from the table and wanted to run away from there. The Surgeon caught him by his neck and pushed him down on the table, saying ‘Lie down you coward’, when the mask was applied by the anaesthetist. The patient went into sweet oblivion inhaling the Chloroform and was operated on for an appendicitis. An inflamed appendix about to perforate, was removed. The patient was ever grateful to the surgeon. A perforated appendix was a literal death warrant those days.

Dr. Austin had a 4 wheel drive Austin Gypsy and a trailer caravan. He used to go to Yala and Wilpatthu, our wildlife sanctuaries of those days. I heard that he was very simple and good fun during those trips.

            He died subsequently of renal failure.

Oldies recall - One every day
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That’s Amore

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