Page 77 - Vol. VI #8

Barrow hospital often seemed haphazard The present debacle appeared to to to to be a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a case in in in in point We students tended to to to to take sides—the situa-
tion tion tion of of of of the the the the the the individual versus the the the the the the blanket powers of of of of authority appealed to to to to us us us If you you are are sent sent to to to to an an institution under section you you don’t have much say in in in in in in in the the the the the the the matter In In the the the the the the the case of of of the the the the the the the elderly pugi- list I I I I think we we we we wished him luck In In discussion with Tall Martha Martha that that evening we we we both noted that that no-one had tried to to to explain anything to to to the the the the the the the the the man ‘No wonder he he he he he he he he he he he he he was was uncooperative ’ she she observed (Martha Hightower was was the the the the the the the leader of of of our group group unanimously elected by the the the the the the the other five students in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a secret ballot at at at at the the the the the the the the the start of of of the the the the the the the the the clinical year )
with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a large french french window window This was surprisingly elegant it it had thin delicate timber glazing-bars and small panes of of glass The The The forces of of of authority didn’t have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a chance The The The patient patient picked off the the the the the the the the nurses nurses one one one by one one one (the largest first) and and and reaching for for the the the the the the the the the syringe syringe seized it it it it it it out of of of of the the the the the the the registrar’s hand He flung it it it it it it across the the the the the the the room It struck an an an an an iron pillar and and and shattered The The unique smell of of of of paraldehyde again filled
the the the the the air (Paraldehyde must be given with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a glass syringe: it it it it dissolves most plastics )
The The registrar registrar stood perplexed looking stupidly down down at at at at the the the the the the puddle of of sedative (along with with the the the the registrar the the the the male nurses and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a few groundsmen) followed the the the the the patient patient who was—surprisingly—uninjured by by his encounter with with the the the the the the shattering glass 68
The The patient looked speculatively at at at at at this french french window window window his his his lips compressed Seeing the the phalanx of of of nurses approaching him he he he he he he he he he he burst into action making a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a run run for it: without hesitation he he he he he he he he he he leapt through the the the the the closed window window There was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a mighty sound of of of breaking glass A moment later he he he he he he he he he he he was was running down the the the the the the the road and and across the the the the the the the hospital grounds For a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a few seconds we we admired the the the the the the the way in in in in in in in in in which the the the the the the outline of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a fleeing human form had been imprinted in in in in in in in the the the the the the wrecked window and and then we we However the the the the the the the the the forces of of of institution had not given up up The The sedation team regrouped: additional male nurses nurses were were summoned and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a scrum descended on
on
on
on
on
on
on
the the the the the the the the the patient patient the the the the the the the the the syringe-bearing registrar registrar being the the the the the the the hook-man as it it it it it it were were “The patient demurred He had no intention of being subdued ”
We We We We students by now had come down down down firmly on
on
the the the the the the the patient’s side We We We We wished the the the the the the the individual to to prevail against authority authority We We We We rooted for for the the the the the the the man It was was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a run of of of about a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a third of of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a mile The patient patient sprinted easily through the the the the the the the the open birch wood- land and and across the the the the the the the Long Ashton bypass neatly avoiding the the the the the the the traffic then he he he he he he he he he he he he ran along the the the the the the the verge— easterly—in the the the the the the direction of of of Bristol He was was was making a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a good pace I I wished him him luck For an an an an an an an elderly man he he he he he he he he he he he he he was was was was marvellously fit The The male nurses were inclined to to to be be overweight and lumbered after him him Their heavy uniforms put them them at at at a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a disadvantage It was was was quite clear that the the the patient would soon outstrip them them Escape was was was not far away In a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a curious way way he he he he he seemed to to be be be Dundry Villa (one of of of four identical buildings each slightly stepped from the next) was was was was of of of its time it it it it it it it it was was was was architecturally quite pleasing Built with with economical practicality it it it it it it it it was was was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a spare two storey brick structure with with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a tiled mansard roof The day room in in which we stood was was was was light light and airy
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Well the the the the the the forces of authority authority again again regrouped This time the the the the the the nurses bore down down upon the the the the the the patient patient patient with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a silent determination The patient patient patient made a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a swift calculation and came to an an an equally sudden decision