"It was the human, the personal side of medicine that left upon me its lasting impressions."
Charles S Norburn (1890-1990), a surgeon and general practitioner who founded his own hospital, vividly retells his most memorable experiences from a long career in The Cry in the Night.
These works tell the story of medicine in the first half of the 20th century. It was an era without many specializations and a surgeon did all surgeries from minor setting of broken limbs, to brain surgery. A doctor's relationship with his patients was very different and more personal than it is today,
Norburn shares his patients joys and their heartbreaks as well as his own philosophy in this captivating book. These dramas range in their themes and details, but don't shy away from the sometimes stark reality, often gratifying true life of a doctor. The plots vary: a young sailor who drowned in WWI; the doctor's discomfort with a mistaken identity; the wonders of life from a doctor's viewpoint; the death of a young man his first day of work; patients caught in the vicissitudes of fate, and many others.
In addition, a fictional story in the style of Poe, The Girl with the Yellow Hair has been included. As a young man, upon finishing medical school, he addresses attitudes toward death in that era. He did not think it belonged with the other works but this wonderful story has been included by the editor to complete his works.
During his long career, he achieved many things:
"Dr. Charles S Norburn's achievements in order to serve his country have been of a rather remarkable nature" The Sunday Citizen, October 14, 1917
"Dr. Norburn chosen by the government...for specialization on surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Mn" The Asheville Citizen, December 29, 1919
"NORBURN SURGEON TO PRES. HARDING" The Associated Press, Front Page, The Herald Sun Durham, N.C. May 29, 1923
"Dr. C.S. Norburn Named Surgeon to the President: Asheville Man Surgeon to Harding for the Alaskan Trip" Front Page, The Asheville Citizen, May 29, 1923
"The nomination of Dr. Norburn for this important post was many by the surgeon-general of the Navy." The Bee, June 1, 1923
"The honors Dr. Charles Norburn has won in the service of his country as a surgeon in the Navy, are matters of pride to the people of Asheville and Buncombe County." Asheville Citizen, October 9, 1923
"Dr. Norburn "Surgeon of Renown" Hattie McKay, Medical Librarian, letter to Asheville
"You have rendered a great public service." Congressman Wright Patman, Chairman of the House Banking & Currency Committee, review of A New Monetary System in 1972
