CHAPTER NINETEEN: Experiments

By the year 1927, opinions about Dr Manson were rather mixed in Aberalaw. His practice was not large, but all his patients had the greatest confidence in him. He rarely gave medicines, but when he did do so he gave the newest, best, and often the most expensive medicines on the market. By his use of modern medicines, Manson once prevented a serious disease from spreading through the town, although the rest of the area suffered badly.

The committee of the Medical Society ought to have been grateful to Manson; but a few of its members, led by Chenkin, were jealous of his success. Though Manson had many friends, he also had enemies.

Andrew sometimes asked himself why he and Christine had remained in Aberalaw after the death of their child. His coal dust research was the only reason for staying: he could not leave the mines until he had completed that.

He now had a great deal of important information about the effect of coal dust on the miners’ lungs. But, in order to prove his facts, he decided to do a few tests on small animals, to study the action of the dust on their lungs. Here, his real troubles began. Taking care to cause the animals as little pain as possible, Andrew did some extremely successful tests, which proved all his beliefs. He felt proud and excited. But then, a few days later, he had a shock.

When Andrew returned home from work, he found Christine looking worried. ‘What’s the matter?’ he asked her.

She looked at him unhappily. ‘I had some visitors today.’

‘Oh? Who were they?’

‘Five members of the committee, including Chenkin. They had heard about your tests on the animals, and wanted to see your work room. I told them that you were not at home; but they pushed me out of the way and rushed into your room. When they saw what was in there, one of the men shouted: “Oh, the poor animals!” I tried to tell them that they had not suffered, but they refused to listen. They put the animals in a bag and took them away.’

‘What!’ Andrew shouted. He thought for a minute, and then went into the hall to use the telephone. But, just as he reached it, the telephone bell rang. ‘Hullo!’ he said angrily. Then his voice changed. It was Owen. ‘Look here, Owen-‘

‘I know, I know,’ Owen interrupted. ‘This is a bad business. I’ll come along to see you now.’

Owen came. Before Andrew could speak, he said: ‘Did you get permission?’

Andrew looked at him in surprise. ‘Permission for what?’

‘To do tests on animals.’

‘Good heavens, no! I never thought about it!’

‘I’m afraid that there will be trouble,’ Owen said. ‘Some members of the committee feel very bitter about you. But don’t worry: everything will be all-right in the end.’

Owen went away. The following evening, Andrew received a letter ordering him to attend an inquiry to be held by the committee a week later.

The news that there was to be an inquiry caused a lot of discussion in Aberalaw. Fights broke out between Andrew’s friends and his enemies. Andrew himself felt tired, angry and worried.

On Sunday afternoon, he presented himself before the committee. A large crowd was waiting in the street when Andrew entered the offices and walked up the narrow stairs to the committee room, which also was packed with people.

The inquiry began with an angry speech by Chenkin, who shouted that Andrew had broken the law by doing tests on animals without permission and should be reported for this crime.

Here, Owen interrupted. ‘I must warn the committee that if we report Dr Manson for this, the whole committee may run into trouble.’

‘What do you mean?’ Chenkin asked.

‘As Dr Manson is employed by us,’ Owen explained, ‘we are responsible in law for his actions!’

There were cries of: ‘Owen’s right! We don’t want any trouble!’

‘Never mind about the permission, then!’ shouted Chenkin. ‘There are many other complaints against him.’

‘Yes! Yes!’ someone at the back called out. ‘Remember all those afternoons that he wasted, riding about on his motorcycle!’

‘He won’t give medicines!’ came another voice.

‘All these complaints,’ Chenkin shouted, ‘prove that Dr Manson has served us badly. We demand that he gives up his job.’

Chenkin looked round at his friends and sat down to loud cheers.

‘Perhaps you will now allow Dr Manson to speak,’ Owen said, and turned to Andrew.

There was a silence. Andrew sat still for a moment. The situation was worse than he had expected. He rose to his feet.

He was not a good speaker, but he was angry now. He began: ‘What I have been doing wasn’t cruel. Why do you men take mice and birds down the mines? To see if gas is present! When these mice and birds are killed by the gas, do you call that cruelty? No – of course you don’t! You realize that these tests with animals save men’s lives – your lives. Well, that is what I have been trying to do for you! For three years I have been doing research into the diseases that you get from the dust in the mines. I have made a discovery that may improve your conditions of work – a discovery that will keep you in good health better than botdes of medicine can do! You don’t believe me! You think that I lie to you! But this will show you what other people think of my experiments – people who are able to judge.’

He took a letter from his pocket and handed it to Owen. It was from a university in Scotland, offering him another medical degree in recognition of his important coal dust discoveries.

Owen read the letter, gave a sudden smile of relief, and then passed it round to the members of the committee. After a few more remarks, he said: ‘Perhaps you will leave us now, Doctor, please.’

When Andrew returned to the committee room, everyone, except for Chenkin, seemed to be more friendly.

Owen stood up and said: ‘I’m glad to tell you, Dr Manson, that the committee has decided to ask you to remain.’

He had won! But his victory gave Andrew no satisfaction. The committee expected him to be pleased. But, instead, he said: ‘Thank you, Mr Owen. I’m glad that the committee wishes me to stay, but I am afraid that I cannot do so. I give the committee a month’s notice from today.’ He. spoke without feeling, and then walked out of the room.

There was silence. Then Chenkin called out: ‘He’ll be no loss!’

Owen now lost his temper. ‘Be quiet, Chenkin,’ he shouted. ‘We have lost the best man we’ve ever had.’