From Scalpel to Spade: A Surgeon’s Road to Ithaka

by Arthur Van Langenberg

The book is a recollection of significant events that steered the course of the author’s surgical career, citing reports of actual cases and operations that remain firmly in the consciousness. It encapsulates the author’s perspective of how medical practice deals with the grim reality of being sick, and how practice has evolved over the years. Dry humor appears from time to time to lighten the mood whenever it is needed. The author goes on to describe how his passion for gardening has provided balance throughout his life and enhanced his respect for Nature.

In the subtitle to the book “A Surgeon’s Road to Ithaka,” the author likens his life journey to Odysseus’s road to Ithaka, a metaphor for finally reaching a desired destination.

250 pages, Hardcover

Published December 1, 2021

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books that educate really delight me! Dr. Arthur van Langenberg writes a easy to read book about his life as a surgeon and a gardener in Hong Kong. But adds wonderful history lessons along the way. I have iron deficiency anemia, sometimes requiring blood transfusions, so the information about how doctor used to guess the amount of hemoglobulin really surprised me. In the past, a blood draw was done, a certian amount of water was added to the blood and then a sample was held up to color chart! If it was the hemoglobulin was judged to be low!

Did you know that CPR was not done before 1960? That an engineer figured out and lives started saved. Before, the method to get the heart going again was very different not successful.

Throughout his life as a surgeon, he followed this saying about the conduct of the surgeon:
" A good surgeon knows how to operate.
A better surgeon knows when to operate.
The best surgeon knows when to not operate."

There are examples of what he did to improve operations, and of times that he knew that the parient had to be operated on and of times of when it is wise not to operate.

I am very impressed by his high standard of medical ethics. My father was a doctor, alhough not a surgeon and he reminds me of my father. I would love meeting him.

The gardening part started when he had the opportunity to have a little space to cultivated a garden with rich soil added on top of a concrete surface. Many black and white and color pictures enchance the book. There you can see his family, his cats,dogs and a hamster, his personal large library, the Canossian sisters (started by a female slave long ago and many pictures of his lovely and diverse gardens.

One similarity with my father, Dr. Arthur van Langenberg stood up for good medical procedures, they both demanded change but when it was refused, both quit and went into private practice.

I hope that you learn and enjoy this book as much as I did!

[Shee Tsim Nam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting to know the relationship between barber and surgeon and behaviour of Pf Ong. Change in medical field over the last few decades is well displayed.