The Wind and the Book

The story of a general practitioner in mid-twentieth century Victoria. Dr Browne tells of his efforts to combat fear and ignorance, and his struggle for improved conditions in the days before antibiotics revolutionized medicine.

This is the story of a general practitioner and his patients. The scene is Victoria in the mid-twentieth century. Many of the changes which revolutionized-medicine, antibiotics, immunization and blood transfusions-were yet to be made. Conditions were hard, transportation primitive and hospital facilities scarce. The innovating doctor met a public that was often cautious and suspicious, if not actively hostile.

In these circumstances Dr Browne struggled for better health care in three country areas. He built his own hospital at Cobden. He campaigned for the immunization of children against diphtheria. Under shocking conditions he carried out one of the earliest blood tranfusions in Victoria. For fifty-three years he worked with imagination, compassion and dedication to improve the health of his patients.

At a time when general practice was threatened by the rush to specialization. Dr Browne's memoirs are not simply fascinating; they are a warning of the danger of our losing the personal relationship and commitment which has characterized general practice in the past.