Diary of a Medical Nobody

by Kenneth Lane

In the summer of 1929, Kenneth Lane joins a medical practice in a coal-mining town in Somerset, England. This is his first-hand account of the years he spent as a general practitioner of medicine before the discovery of antibiotics in the decade leading up to the Second World War. Each chapter is the story of a patient and a family, describing how they dealt with an illness or a tragedy, and how Dr. Lane navigated the difficulties of diagnosis, the seriousness of the decisions he had to make, and his relationship with the patient and family. The stories are told with particular attention to the role that human happiness and temperament might play in the prevalence and persistence of illness.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr Lane qualified as a GP in 1929 and joined a practice in Somerset. His recollections of his time as a doctor before the war and pre-NHS is fascinating. We see him start married life, begin a family and grow in experience as he tries to help patients from all walks of life. What shines out in this book is the care and concern for his patients in a time before the wonders of the 'superdrugs' and modern medical advances. A really enjoyable book.

[Elspeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dont make a habit of reading medical books outside of work but these are the best anecdotes ive ever read. About new GP moving to Somerset. Written retrospectively in to 80s about the 20-30s. So much has changed but even more exactly the same. Made me want to be like Dr Lane.

[Sharon Zink · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like the James Herriot books, except this one deals with a physician's activities in England. It is interesting and well written.