Trinidad's Doctor's Office

by Vincent Tothill

Picture this: San Fernando, Trinidad, 1920. Longing for the tropics, the young medicus Dr. Vincent Tothill signs up with the Colonial Service and comes to southern Trinidad, where he first works in the oilfields, then in the sugar factory, and eventually sets up private practice. With Scottish wit and a subtle feel for the local parlance, he describes the people he meets and the events that mark the highlights of his sojourn. Tothill will make you laugh out loud with his sometimes picaresque adventures, but his diary is also a valuable anthropological and historical document, describing the language and customs of Trinidadians in that period and the shortcomings that of the medical service of the Colonial Government. This book was first published by Blackie & Sons in Scotland and is lavishly illustrated with contemporary photographs, some taken by Dr. Tothill himself, and others added from Paria Publishing's extensive archives.

Genres: Medicine

222 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Petra X · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book by a doctor who went to Trinidad in the 20s because he couldn't stand the English weather. He was fuelled equally by rum cocktails and social injustice, both tempered with bitters of one sort or another. He had no prejudice against any colour or any class and therefore got far more invitations to drink rum than the more exclusive ex-pat members of that colonial society. (A fact still not appreciated by those whose level of popularity doesn't earn them very many invitations and who could benefit from an enlarged social circle).

It's a portrait of a society that has emerged from slavery but not from the downpressing effect of large land owners and employers that underpay their workers and generally house and treat them as badly as they can and still get work from them. Trinidad was saved by a well-educated Black (and later, Indian) intelligensia who had taken over the justice system and the top ranks of the civil service and eventually business.

Besides being a detailed portrait of doctoring in Trinidad, it is also about the sailing adventures of 'Tottie' who built his own boat and in a very gung-ho manner sailed it in difficult waters.Luckily he had friends who kept an eye out for him and when necessary sent out rescue boats.

There aren't very many books like this, anthropological, historical records, by authors with a fine eye for social detail, a good sense of humour and a passion for doing the right thing whether it was writing, doctoring, being absolutely fair or mixing the best of all possible rum cocktails.

But my recipe for rum punch is the best of all possible rum cocktails.

Steep some Mount Gay (pronounced Mun Gay) rum with half a West Indian lime in the fridge for a day or two. When ready to drink, remove the lime and pour over ice (I'm not a purist in this or anything else) and add more rum, a little sugar syrup to taste, a float of Angostura bitters and a twist of fresh lime. Follow with a chaser of water.

I think Tottie would really have enjoyed this cocktail and definitely come back for more!

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, this book is laugh-out-loud funny, but it is so much more. Seen through the eyes of an English medical doctor practicing in south Trinidad in the 1920s and 1930s, we learn much about the customs, food, religious practices and racial prejudices of that era, especially as displayed in the oilfields of south Trinidad, the sugar plantations of central Trinidad and life 'down the islands'. It is a valuable historical work and inevitably leads the reader into modern day comparisons. The writing is delightful and imbued throughout with the most insightful humour. My only criticism is that the later chapters on the Colonial medical services could easily have been omitted in this modern edition. Very recommended!

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A journalistic account of a sojourn in Trinidad in the 1920s and 30s by a sympathetic Scottish medic, with insightful and often comic observations of, and meditations on, the society and its people. First published in 1939, this new edition sorely needed better editing, and a scholarly introduction wouldn't have been out of place. Still, a very worthwhile read.

[Nicki Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious!

[Justin Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trinidad's Doctor's Office is an easy, enjoyable read that mixes humor with a genuine sense of place and time. Through the diary of Dr. Vincent Tothill, a young Scottish doctor who arrives in Trinidad in 1920, you get a firsthand look at life in southern Trinidad, especially San Fernando and its surrounding communities.

Tothill writes with a straightforward, good-natured humor and a growing appreciation for the people he meets. His attention to local expressions, customs, and everyday interactions gives the book a sense of authenticity that feels surprisingly fresh for something written a century ago. You can also sense his affection for the island and its people, even when he’s honest about the shortcomings of the colonial medical system.

As someone who is interested in genealogy and the Trinidad of yesteryear, this book feels like a treasured time capsule. The details he captures, how people spoke, what daily life looked like, the small cultural nuances, offer a rare window into a Trinidad that no longer exists but still shapes the one we know today.

The stories themselves are often light, amusing, and very human. Whether he’s navigating long days in the oilfields, dealing with unpredictable moments in the sugar factory, or adjusting to life as a private doctor in San Fernando, each entry paints a vivid picture of a world in transition.

If you’re curious about Trinidad and Tobago’s history, enjoy old diaries and memoirs, or simply appreciate glimpses into the past, this is a worthwhile and memorable read. It’s engaging, informative, and quietly charming in all the best ways.

[Franz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible book. Tothill is a comedian, an intellectual, and perhaps most impressively a progressive (for his time and with a racialist, but importantly not racist, worldview) all in one man.

A significant portion of the book, besides humorous anecdotes, is dedicated to laying out viable solutions for problems that still plague the West Indies, and more specifically Trinidad, to this day.

My only complaint is an inane and unresolvable one: that Tothill had not stayed in Trinidad for a year or two longer! He just missed my great-grandfather at Usine Ste. Madeleine. And, surprisingly, he mentions a woman who would later become said great-grandfather's wife...

[Karen Barrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

With his dry wit and humour, a Scottish Doctor recounts his time working on the Caribbean island of Trinidad in the 1920s and 30s. Using balanced insight, he gives a largely unbiased account of the local populace and culture rarely seen from a foreigner's point of view, without the usual lens of the colonialist. This book would appeal to Trinidadians and foreigners who have an interest in historical nonfiction of the region.

[Helen Hanschell Pollock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great if you are into Trinidad and Tobago social history of the 1920s and 30s.

[BrokenTune · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review posted on BookLikes:

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[Anonymous]

history and humor
very good book