A Surgeon Songster

Some years ago a noted senior surgeon in Lotus City often sang during his surgical procedure as he toiled away freeing up the gall bladder or small bowel, or whatever. He appeared to know only one tune; sang it softly , or hummed, but always audibly. I think it relaxed him in his work and he was often unaware that he was singing. Sometimes he would catch himself, as if he was always in command, and look fixedly at his scrub. He had a commanding presence and could fix you with his eye and say something like "Fresh Fish" and you might think an important message was delivered since his phrases always had a certain sonority.
     Though singing is not that uncommon in routine surgical procedures, it is usually during the closure and when the mood lightens. Most surgeons that sing have a very modest repertoire to draw on and will drone on tonelessly, but it is relaxing to the staff to know that the operator is at least content with the progress of their case. The senior one of whom I speak apparently knew only the hymn, Nearer My God to Thee, which he sang at occurring intervals during the procedure, not always at the most relaxed time. Thankfully the patients, at least the pessimists, in those days were almost always asleep, not overhearing the hymn as a premonition of some trip they were unwilling to take. On the other hand the more optimistic of the patients may well have considered that they were simply being operated on by a saintly man whose connection with God was immediate and proximate. Since, however, they all lay blissfully ignorant of the heavenly melody that was mercilessly massacred by the operator, they could be reassured that their organ, which he had in his hands was treated with more skill and care than any organ with which he may have attempted to accompany his hymn.