I once listed a few of the conversations with students and came across it years later. Some of them are kind of funny but often were a window into the worries and concerns of this age group. Some were living away from home for the first time and didn’t know who to talk to about their worries.Twice a year two or three of us- Archie Johnson, Dr. ken Nickerson a gynaecologist and I ,by invitation, would go for an informal meeting in one of the women’s residences. Usually it was standing room only with a hundred or more girls stacked into the room. There was giggling and some joking around on their part but there was a basic hunger for all sorts of information about themselves and their bodies. Afterward the three of us would adjourn to the Faculty next Club for a well earned drink. I don’t know about the girls but I think that we learned a lot!
So here are excerpts of some of the conversations with students over half a century ago.
You’ve got WHAT in your beard ??
No, the scar won’t show- at least it shouldn’t !
No, I don’t think that a shot of penicillin will help your piles (tiredness) (brittle nails) (runny nose) (dandruff) ( poor appetite)
Yes I know that you broke your little toe in 1956 but I still can’t give you a medical parking permit near the rugby pavilion.
has your mind ever gone blank before...no, I mean besides after the engineers ball.
No I’m afraid that I don’t have pills that only work on weekends. ( the morning after pill came along later)
No I don’t think a brain X-ray will improve your marks
Oh I see, it’s a sort of funny feeling in your whatchamacallit
You were cracking WHAT with your cast ??
No, there’s no way I can tell whether you drank your contact lenses
Your blood tests are normal. Yes, I know what your medical student boy friend told you
No I don’t think that your boy friend will catch it. No, not even if he tries.
Crawley things you say...
No you don’t have mono. Have you considered that only four hours sleep may be causing your tiredness ?? Twelve vitamin pills a day are unlikely to help.
Yes, I’m sure she was swell but we had better check just to be sure....
No I’m sorry but I cant tell you what is the matter with him/her. Yes, I realize you are her/his girlfriend/boyfriend/Professor/room mate/old school pal.
well I suppose we could find out whether the Residence kitchens could provide steaks, rye bread, more rice,yoghurt, vegetarian dishes etc. ( this before they provided some vegetarian and gluten free diets)
Now I’m sure that John/Susie/ Billy Joe didn’t mean to hurt your feelings !!
No, I do t think hormone cream will help your figure. Isn’t there something designed for women’s underwear that does that job. ( before the implant era)
Are you sure that your Home Economics book said that ? Your parathyroid glands should be working fine. Show me the statement. No that’s the thyroid gland that they are discussing.
You don’t look like you are going bald to me. Yes there will be hair on your brush but we normally shed about 80 hairs a day which are replaced in young health people
Well there is a special clinic near the hospital and they are very good at tracing there people. No I don’t think that you should go looking yourself
Try more fluids and exercise. No, I agree, not everyone likes prunes.
No it’s not cancer. It’s just a wart. No it doesn’t mean that your blood is bad.
I don’t think a Psychiatrist can tell you which one to go steady with....
Well if it worries you maybe you should tell him/her
Are you sure that your mother told you that ?
Well if he really did have one of those operations, I’m afraid that it must have been a failure
No that’s not a small mole on the base of you eyelash. It’s a louse. Feeling woozy ? Here lie down for a few minutes. Have any others on the football team had problems ?
”But Doctor I cant be pregnant. I’ve never never had sex. I haven’t been more near a mam”
And so It went.