Viva Hippocrates!

by Margaret Fleming

Let's hear it for Mexican medical care.

Some time ago a friend of ours, Rosarie Salerno, had a frightening experience. A vicious dog entered her yard in Tucson and attacked her cat. While she was attempting to rescue it, the terrified feline bit her on the hand. Cat bites are potentially very dangerous since cat saliva carries many bacteria.

In Rosarie's case some of the bacteria were obviously harmful because within several hours her hand and wrist were sore, inflamed, and swollen to twice their normal size. She called her doctor and was told that he couldn't see her; that she would have to go to Urgent Care. At Urgent Care she was told there would be a wait of at least 2 or 3 hours. Interpreting this as probably 4 hours, and feeling more miserable every minute, Rosarie called a friend in  Puerto Peņasco and said, "Please make an appointment with Dr. Morales for me. I'm on my way."

Four hours later she arrived. It was late in the evening, but Dr. Morales had kept his clinic open just for her. He immediately gave her an antibiotic to combat the bacteria, an anti-inflammatory injection to reduce the swelling, and a cream to rub on her hand to alleviate the pain. She started to feel better right away, and by morning her hand was almost back to normal.

Rosarie tells everyone that Dr. Morales saved her life, and she's not just using a figure of speech.