In the olden days, one always climbed the staircase. The expectations were simple - to reach the destination. Climbing the stairs was a pleasurable activity. We could chat with the others and exchange views. I remember my chief telling me how he had suffered an attack at of angina pectoris at the age of 35 and then became fit enough to climb staircase. He would never allow us to use the lift (later days)even while climbing the 6 th floor. Sometimes we would have a cup of coffee after climbing down the stairs.Thus, Intellectual and social interaction formed a valuable part of the stair climbing exercise.
Then came the era of lifts (elevators) and later escalators. Climbing became effortless and fast. People forgot the use of staircase. I still prefer staircase. In emergencies, I use the lift. When I climb down the staircase, I find really ill, disabled, patients with COPD and breathless individuals slowly climbing up the staircase. When I ask them why they are not using the lift, the answer is the same - they just could not get into the lift - they were kept out by the fitter people! So much for the social understanding and compassion from the society!
When there is a designated "doctor's lift", it is common to see the public beat the doctors to it. I once had to explain a group of people that I was the person they had come to see from a far off place and that not allowing me to get in will defeat the very purpose.
Sometimes youngsters with backpacks get in. With the i- phone in the ears, a hand held device with which they are perpetually messaging, it is indeed anybody's guess as to the fate of the person standing right behind this youngster. He will have to cave in and adjust.
It is amazing to see fit looking people wait long and use lift to climb 1 flight of stairs up or down. Worst case scenario is when a person wanting to go from the 1 floor to the ground floor gets in as the lift climbs from the 1 floor upwards.
It is not as if nothing interesting happens inside a lift. Many calls are made, messages are sent, decisions are taken and perhaps bonds are forged!There was a rumor that a young doctor proposed to his sweetheart kneeling down with a red rose in the lift at midnight as the lift went up from the ground floor to the 10 floor(ICU). I am not sure wha the result was.
One of the mast important decisions in connection with the starting of our alma mater is supposed to have taken place in the lift. Dr. TMA Pai, the visionary who built the KMC was finding it difficult to get an university affiliation for the college. He went to meet Dr. Laxamansami Mudaliyar (who was the vice chancellor of the Madras university ) who just would not give him an appointment. Not the one to be defeated easily, Dr. Pai patiently waited for many days. He found out that Dr. Mudaliyar would be alone when he went home down the staircase after the days work. He decided that it would be the best time and one day got in with Dr. Mudaliyar. Before the lift reached the ground floor, Dr. Mudaliyar was so impressed with Dr. Pai that he went up again to his office and invited Dr. Pai to join him. The rest, as they say, is history!
I am also reminded of a horrible episode when one of my patients who was staying in a new building (still being completed), . went into the lift hole (which he imagined to be a lift) and fell into the basement sustaining a fracture. He shouted for his servant to help him who in a state of confusion as how to help his boss, voluntarily jumped into the lift hole causing a second fracture for the bass and one for himself! The boss was lucky to be alive!
Then came the era of lifts (elevators) and later escalators. Climbing became effortless and fast. People forgot the use of staircase. I still prefer staircase. In emergencies, I use the lift. When I climb down the staircase, I find really ill, disabled, patients with COPD and breathless individuals slowly climbing up the staircase. When I ask them why they are not using the lift, the answer is the same - they just could not get into the lift - they were kept out by the fitter people! So much for the social understanding and compassion from the society!
When there is a designated "doctor's lift", it is common to see the public beat the doctors to it. I once had to explain a group of people that I was the person they had come to see from a far off place and that not allowing me to get in will defeat the very purpose.
Sometimes youngsters with backpacks get in. With the i- phone in the ears, a hand held device with which they are perpetually messaging, it is indeed anybody's guess as to the fate of the person standing right behind this youngster. He will have to cave in and adjust.
It is amazing to see fit looking people wait long and use lift to climb 1 flight of stairs up or down. Worst case scenario is when a person wanting to go from the 1 floor to the ground floor gets in as the lift climbs from the 1 floor upwards.
It is not as if nothing interesting happens inside a lift. Many calls are made, messages are sent, decisions are taken and perhaps bonds are forged!There was a rumor that a young doctor proposed to his sweetheart kneeling down with a red rose in the lift at midnight as the lift went up from the ground floor to the 10 floor(ICU). I am not sure wha the result was.
One of the mast important decisions in connection with the starting of our alma mater is supposed to have taken place in the lift. Dr. TMA Pai, the visionary who built the KMC was finding it difficult to get an university affiliation for the college. He went to meet Dr. Laxamansami Mudaliyar (who was the vice chancellor of the Madras university ) who just would not give him an appointment. Not the one to be defeated easily, Dr. Pai patiently waited for many days. He found out that Dr. Mudaliyar would be alone when he went home down the staircase after the days work. He decided that it would be the best time and one day got in with Dr. Mudaliyar. Before the lift reached the ground floor, Dr. Mudaliyar was so impressed with Dr. Pai that he went up again to his office and invited Dr. Pai to join him. The rest, as they say, is history!
I am also reminded of a horrible episode when one of my patients who was staying in a new building (still being completed), . went into the lift hole (which he imagined to be a lift) and fell into the basement sustaining a fracture. He shouted for his servant to help him who in a state of confusion as how to help his boss, voluntarily jumped into the lift hole causing a second fracture for the bass and one for himself! The boss was lucky to be alive!
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