Recollections

I WAS so pleased to read the comprehensive tribute to DR CAMERON GOULD (15 August).

This lists his huge commitment, academic and managerial, to health care in Lothian and Scotland. Nevertheless, he always remained closely involved with the day-to-day clinical laboratory work in his department at the Western General Hospital, an example of which I point out below.

He was a good friend and colleague of mine for many years, when I was a consultant general surgeon at Roodlands General Hospital, Haddington. At that time Roodlands had a small but very active surgical unit and we admitted and treated, regularly, patients with life-threatening infections, such as general peritonitis and septicaemia.

Our bacteriology laboratory service was provided by Dr Gould's department at the Western General and when we had a patient in our wards with this type of serious infection, we only had to phone Cam Gould personally and tell him the problem.

At once he would personally take charge of the infection problem; the lab samples were cultured expeditiously, and Cam would phone me himself as soon as he had noted any growth of the causal bacteria and suggest appropriate antibiotics. As soon as the culture plates showed an antibiotic sensitivity, he would be on the telephone again to advise any necessary change in the drug.

When we had a patient with a protracted and serious infection, Cam Gould would often drive down from the Western General to discuss the case with me, which was always very reassuring. On other occasions he might just visit our hospital to show an interest in it. But I have to admit that these might, curiously, coincide with his acquisition of a fast new car; in those days the drive from Edinburgh to Haddington was enjoyable in a good motor, and not bedeviled by congested roads, "traffic calming" obstructions and revenue-generating speed cameras, and perhaps this encouraged these trips.

I know that several of my patients owe their lives to Cam, his laboratory, his colleagues and technicians, and would join me in thanking him and saluting his memory.