Eudunda

Eudunda

I guess it’s ‘lambing’ time on the farm. Lambing is when baby sheep come into the world; the farm I stayed at had about 8-10 new additions. Thankfully, I wasn’t asked to assist in any of those births. But I was kinda honored when the family said they would name one of the little puffs of wool ‘Bryan’, in honor of my visit.

I got a little concerned, though, when we had lamb chops for dinner a few days later…

The family I stayed with was really nice; very warm and hospitable. Max’s wife offered for me to take one of their horses for a ride. They have four, and two are good (or so I’m told) for fox-hunting – jumping over fences and that kinda stuff. While a ride on their property sounded like it might be relaxing, I decided to decline. I mean, the last time I was on a horse, it was at a party, and it was being led around by a clown with a cowboy hat…

But it’s been a lot of fun and a very educational couple of weeks. It’s not often that you get to do medicine, surgery, anesthetics, pediatrics, O&G and psychiatry - all before lunch. We even had an emergency c-section on Thursday – I helped do the newborn exam. This means counting fingers and toes, making sure the little one is moving air, slapping the bottom if the need arises (of the infant, that is), and giving the bub to mum. After the exam, a nurse wanted to use a new blanket to wrap the little guy up, and asked me to pick him up. A 5-minute old baby. Me.

Anyone else see a problem with this?

I managed to pick him up – it took me a couple of tries to get it right – only to find he was covered in what I’ll politely call ‘Baby Juice’. - think of where he just came from. Despite some wiping with a towel, he was still a little, uh, wet. On picking him up, this, uh, juice transferred over to my surgery top, hands and arms.

After soap, boiling water and bleach, I *think* I got it all off me…

And if you thought Kapunda was small: The doctor I was attached to also did clinics in this little ‘burg called Eudunda, population 950. Now, I’m not sure, but I think they only way they got the count *that* high was to include all the residents, their dogs, and anyone who ever stopped to have lunch. Most of the patients had one of three last names, and they all looked like they didn’t get out of town much. One person even asked me if there was any difference between Eudunda and Washington, DC. After I realized that she wasn’t joking, I replied that in DC, traffic jams usually involve cars, not sheep.

Yes, ladies and gentleman, I was stopped on the road because of sheep. Loose on the road. Not moving at the speed limit. Can you imagine *that* on the beltway?

What was sad about Eudunda, though, was the town just closed their library - seems someone stole the book.

Thank you, thank you, I’ll be here all weekend – and try the lambchops.

And with that, it’s the weekend. Even though next week is my vacation before I start the peds rotation, I’ll be doing work. For three mornings I’ll be doing my Urban GP placements (I have to do 8), plus lots of book work. Not to mention trying to get sheep poop off my pant leg…

As always, Love to All and keep working on your 101 List!
Bryan

Kapunda

Kapunda

I’ve finished my first week in Kapunda, and I’m not really sure where to even begin. How ‘bout this:

I was chasing horses that had broken loose from their pen and needed herding, I helped feed the sheep and managed to dump a bale of hay over my head and down my shirt, and ended up with dog poop on my pants and chicken poop on my shoes. And this was just the first day.

I think we can safely say I am *not* cut out to be a country doctor.

Max is the local doctor who decided to take me in. He’s been working in Kapunda for 15 years, and living outside of town on a farm. On his 100 acres he keeps horses, sheep, cows, and chickens, a few dogs and cats, plus three kids. And Bryan.

I think it’s easy to figure out which item doesn’t belong…

On the medical side, I have been seeing patients with Dr. Max; it’s been really interesting and I have learned a lot. Not sure how much of it will translate into being a doctor back home; I mean, how often does one treat patients with Orf in DC? (Yes, Orf is a real disease; you get it by being around infected sheep. Trust me, this past week has been stranger than fiction.) Not to mention how much I have picked up on raising rabbits for fun and profit, the cost of having the local butcher turn a lamb into lambchops, and doing physicals for people to get their horse-racing license.

And I have another week of this?

On Wednesday night, I decided to get some exercise and walked around the property (read: I was trying to get away from the kids – age 6-11 – who were really getting on my nerves.). So I went out and looked at the sheep, petted the pooches, and patted the ponies. I was a bit worried about the horses; they weren’t very active and seemed quite sad – depressed, almost.

So I asked them, “Why the long face?”

And with that, it’s the weekend. I decided to come back to Adelaide for a few days of civilization, and to get some studying done. Not to mention my hands were getting chapped from milking the cows…

As always, Love to All and keep working on your 101 List!
Bryan