Review: Science Fiction: "An Ounce of Cure" by Alan Nourse

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Fifty-five-year-old James Wheatley’s toe has been hurting on and off for about six months. Not until the past week has it gotten bad enough for him to go to the doctor, and just the thought of it is giving him palpitations. The doctor is quite disapproving when he realizes Wheatley hasn’t come for a check-up since 1963—nearly ten years! Medicine has specialized and improved greatly in those ten years. "One toe today, perhaps," said the doctor heavily. "But tomorrow—" He heaved a sigh. "How about your breathing lately? Been growing short of breath when you hurry upstairs?" "Well—I have been bothered a little." "I thought so! Heart pound when you run for the subway? Feel tired all day? Pains in your calves when you walk fast?" "Uh—yes, occasionally, I—" Wheatley looked worried and rubbed his toe on the chair leg. "You know that fifty-five is a dangerous age," said the doctor gravely. "Do you have a cough? Heartburn after dinner? Prop up on pillows at night? Just as I thought! And no checkup for ten years!" He sighed again. "I suppose I should have seen to it," Wheatley admitted. "But you see, it's just that my toe—" "My dear fellow! Your toe is part of you. It doesn't just exist down there all by itself. If your toe hurts, there must be a reason." The doctor could give him some pain medication for his toe, but that wouldn’t be getting at the root of the problem now, would it? The pain could be inflammatory. It could be a tumor. It could be functional or—or—vascular. Yes. Wheatley will have to come back Monday and have his blood pressure taken by the Hypertension man. The appointment with the Hypertension man is only the beginning. This is a cute bit of farce. Author Alan Nourse was a physician in addition to writing science fiction. One of his most famous works is Star Surgeon. He also wrote non-fiction books in the medical field and an advice column in Good Housekeeping. This story is available from Project Gutenberg: _____ Title: “An Ounce of Cure” Author: Alan Nourse (1928-1992) First published: Imaginative Tales November. 1955 Source: ISFDB