Experience 1966

Thought I would share my experience in Command Hospital, Poona ( now PUNE). It was 3 years after I joined my service. One day ,I suddenly developed some pain in the throat, I could not find the exact cause, and went to a Dentist,the chap gave some antibiotic and asked me to take rest. To my good fortune one of my friends from A F M C, visited me that evening. Having seen my predicament ( I could not even open my mouth), asked me to come to Command Hospital the next day. Promptly I landed there . One of the Professors, a Colonel was taking a class and my friend requested him to examine me.  He checked me and appeared to be so happy to get a rare Case of 

Ludwig's Angima ( thats what he called it ). Those were the early days when the Command Hospital was thrown open to the Civilians ( as AFMC was not getting enough varieties).He explained the whole thing to the Students. He advised my friend to admit me in the I C U. Then I thought the case must be very serious. I got admitted  there. Two Doctors  were attending on me throughout the night. by morning I became totally free and glanced around me to take stock of the situation. I observed that Two of my co patients had succumbed and passed away the previous night. I got scared and requested that I be shifted from there. The Doctor permitted  me to be shifted to the General ward.Being a patient from the ICU, I was asked to go in a Wheel Chair. You know, it is very uncomfortable to move in a Wheel Chair when you are hale and healthy ( which I was !!). For the first few days Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner used to be served in my Bed.  In the mornings, few Batches of Medical Students used to visit all the Patients in the process of learning. My Case being a " unique " one, I used to have a big rush. I enjoyed giving them a lecture . Only problem was that they used to give me Vitamin Injections twice a day. 

  After a week or so, I was asked to collect my  Lunch and Dinner.It used to be quite funny. One had to stand in a que along with the others who mostly happened to be from the Services.

 Finally after 3 Weeks of stay in the Hospital it was decided to discharge me. I was asked to report at the CO( Commanding Officer)'s office. It appears that  the CO would  enquire the health of the Patient and sign the Discharge Papers then and there.

   A sort of Dress Reharsel was conducted before the CO comes. All the concerned patients would be asked  to observe all Military formalities. I was the only civilian that day. Somehow my "performance" ( during the reharsel) did not come upto the required Standard, I was asked to be away from the Que.    It was forgotten to remove my Case Papers ( to be signed by the CO) from the Bunch. I was watching from the Sidelines. The Discharge Ceremony began as per Schedule.  One soldier was calling the name and  a chap from the Que would go before the CO, Salute him, the CO would enquire  " Theek hai  kya  ? ", the soldier would respond  " Haan saar ", the CO would sign the paper. So it went on for quite some time. Suddenly  they found that  one Case Sheet remained and there was nobody in the Que !! The CO got furious and demanded an explanation.  They then told him my Case and I was produced before him. He then asked me whether I was  Subedaar  Something( I donot remember what name it was!!). I replied emphatically that I was definetely NOT .   Somebody had already got discharged under my Name !! So the whole Exercise was repeated and order was set after quite some time. It was then decided that Civilians and Services  Patients would form separate columns to avoid any " impersonation " !! 

   The final Act in the Discharge drama took place in the Store. You are alloted a pair of Dress (two pyjamaas and shirts), a thali, a glass and a Towel. I ceremoniously took all these things to the Store for returning  and get a "Clearance " from them. Everything was fine till the concerned soldier said that the " Naadaa" of the Pyjama was missing. He was insisting that " Clearance" would not be given until all items are returned. So a Big idea came to me and I removed my Shoe lace and requested him to accept the same in place of the " NAADAA"!! he was happy and  I finally got my discharge from the Command Hospital.