Naro Va Kunjaro Va

I was doing casualty duty in the dockyard dispensary on a sunday morning.At about 10 am the dockyard security officer brought one sweeper for medical examination with a complaint that he was drunk on duty.

Since I had worked in psychiatry I started doing mental status examination by asking questions to the patient.On asking him the sweeper said (SAAB, MAIN ZOOT NAHI BOLATA)sir I am not lyingI was asked to clean a manhole where a dead dog was blocking the drain. I got down the man hole to pick the dog. It was badly rotten and as I tried to hold its tail the tail separated and came in my hand.I got severe nausea due to the putrid stench and I vomited.It was impossible for me to do anything further so I came out had two drinks and then again went down the manhole and picked the dog in bits and pieces and came out.I was helpless.

The dockyard security officer told that the story was true

Now I asked the dockyard security officer as to what he had to say?

He said that sir if this person gets down the manhole in drunken state and does not come out I will be hanged! So what do I do?

Now I was in a dilemma as both of them were right in their own way and I was asked to sit on judgement.

What do I do?

I gave the certificate in a non commital state.

The patient agrees to have consumed two pegs of alcohol however he does not appear to be under influence of alcohol.

This leaves the onus on the prosecuting authority.

Till date I dont know whether I am right or wrong.

I wish to put a few experiences in this as a no of people may say nothing happens with two pegs.

While working in Psychiatry I was asked to do the first examination of a soldier who was referred for psychiatric admission.Despite repeated attempts to elicit history of excess alcohol consumption the soldier was telling he always consumes only two pegs which are issued to him.(Soldiers are issued two pegs of rum thrice a week in their messes as a recreation)

Despite repeated questions he kept saying that may be once in a while when his friend is not in mood he may consume a third peg but certainly not more.

Finally when I asked him how does he consume the rum so he told me that when the bar opens at 1900 hrs he takes his 2 pegs and drinks them neat.That's when i realised that it is not only the amount but the way you consume the alcohol is important.That's how he was always drunk on duty at 2000 hrs.

Each patient teaches you something