Medicine Men: Extreme Appalachian Doctoring

A delightful, heartwarming and heartbreaking, collection of short stories filled with Southern characters and the doctors who cared for them. Carolyn Jourdan has pulled together another collection of stories about selfless acts in mountains and hollows, places that are far from the media spotlight. These are stories of courage, kindness, patience and an enduring sense of humor, covering 75 years of medicine, that you will return to, again and again.The 146 pages of this book reflect the essence of medicine that's lost in today's world of technology and high prices. It's about love and kindness, patience and courage, warmth and concern. The descriptions are rich, filled with the beauty and fragrance of the Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee.If you haven't read Jourdan's first book, "Heart in the Right Place", you should. A memoir filled with comedy, the author recounts her life as a high-powered Senate lawyer, who gave up the good life to return to the mountains to work as a receptionist in her father's rural medical practice. "Medicine Men" is a followup, filled with true memorable and often spiritual moments collected from more than a dozen Appalachian physicians. I'm hoping for book #3 from this author.

Carolyn Jourdan has written a most delightful book, one that I have enjoyed immensely. Those of us who grew up in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee and remember the country and small-town doctors of years gone by will find it especially appealing, but I recommend it for all readers.She has collected many stories from those old-time physicians--of which her father was one, and in whose office she often worked; she was even a participant in some of the events described so well and she knows whereof she writes.The stories range from hilarious to heart-rending, all revealing well the dedication and outright heroism of those mountain doctors.The book is well written, and the author knows how to tell each story superbly. I have not given it five stars, however. Why? A few sections in the middle of the book suffer a bit from a scattering of typographical and syntax errors which are usually a put-off for those of us who are picky purists in such matters. The stories are so engrossing that I chose to ignore those minor missteps. I am sure the author will correct them, and they do not seem typical of her writing.I was particularly struck by the following passage, in light of the current rush to create electronic medical records."As I drove home, I mused about the times it was made clear to me, from the experiences of my own family and the many others I'd spoken to, that the arduous service performed by rural doctors would not be possible without the help of a strong relationship between husband and wife, and sometimes, as in this case, help from the community as well. This, I think, is the most tragic loss brought on by the modern health care system. The loving interconnectedness of doctor, family, and community is being destroyed. These ties that bind us to each other are the bonds that define our humanity, and yet they are being systematically severed in the service of automated bookkeeping. The entire health care system is now being organized around machines instead of human beings. Not prioritized to reduce human suffering, but rather to optimize a computerized record-keeping system. This is a tragedy."Jourdan, Carolyn (2012-11-17). Medicine Men: Extreme Appalachian Doctoring (p. 129). . Kindle Edition.Please do read this book! I am very selective about what I read, and I rarely make such recommendations. For us old-timers, it will elicit memories and nostalgia; for younger readers, it will reveal a world they have missed and which their history lessons have not often mentioned. It feeds all our longings for a return to simple living, which, perhaps, we have lost forever.

This book took me back to my childhood. While listening to it I could clearly picture in my mind the doctor’s office my parents took us to. I loved that doctor. He was so kind. In hearing of the kinds of payments received I remembered one time we went in and there were a couple of live chickens in the waiting room. They were payment from another patient. It makes me laugh now.I listened to this book on Audible. The narrator sounded a lot like some of my family when we would sit on the front porch and talk about life and what all was going on with our family, friends and community. I greatly enjoyed listening to him.The book isn’t a long read. It might sound a bit scattered to some, especially if they aren’t familiar with the porch gossiping. These are a collection of short memories from various good hearted doctors mainly in the Smokies, though I did note the mention of Harlan, Kentucky. There were also what I’ll call sound bites. Those little sentences or sayings possibly coming from the communities or others in the office, made me smile. I think though they might confuse some who aren’t used to the one sentence comments that would be made on the porch. There really wasn’t anything to set them apart from the short stories being told. Listeners might not readily grasp that they are just comments tossed out.While the stories are told with humor they are infused with the problems of Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, (probably elsewhere but I can’t speak for those places). Poverty, alcoholism, domestic violence are sprinkled throughout. Some might take issue but I saw it all there and just because some might not want to hear them spoken of doesn’t make the problems magically disappear. Sometimes when I hear people who want to erase things, (like not using certain words or talking about some issues that were normal occurrences), I feel like we are trying to sweep them under the rug. When you forget your history you open the door to it happening again. Realistically we are still dealing with the same issues regardless of all the cries of it’s unacceptable to use those words or to talk about those issues. If you are someone who is sensitive to hearing about the past in the language from the past, this might not be a good match for you. But if you are someone who accepts that we were not perfect then, (and are not now), you may find these stories a touching or humorous, (sometimes both at the same time), glimpse into the past.I haven’t come across a doctor who compares with Doc Acker from my youth. I wish I could because I could trust that he was giving me his best, regardless of my ability to pay, and allow me to keep my dignity. The doctors from this book, and so many who have worked in poor areas, brought something that I find lacking with many of today’s doctors. They knew the people they were treating. They lived among us. They may have treated our parents, cousins and our children so they knew not only our medical and family histories but our community histories. They knew who had addictions. They knew who was dealing with abuse issues or job loss. They combined that information to give us their best medical care even if we couldn’t afford it. This book with its memories shines a light on that.Oh, and the dog story ... have tissues ready. That black & white dog! I’ve got tears just thinking of that loyal friend!

This book was written by a lady who grew up in the Smoky Mountains . Her father was a country doctor down in the hills . He treated mostly low income families ,back when they made house calls . Doctors were rarely paid with cash by the poor people ,but many times,they bartered with him for his services,so he was paid by chickens or eggs, freshly-killed animals ,home-made preserves and canned goods, etc.This book is written sorta like a short story,as it doesn't flow in one continual story . It tells about a lot of her father's cases, but also tells of other Appalachian doctors and some of their more memorable cases .A lot of times,they would use unconventional methods ,such as some type of herbal item growing in the woods, or an old fashioned home remedy,which sometimes actually helped.It told of the serious cases when poor familes had a gravely ill family member,and the doctor feeling so helpless because he knew there wasn't much he could do for the patient .Many times, the patient would come to the doctors' house at all hours, even in the middle of the night in case of emergencies .His family was woken up frequently by people who had been in a domestic abuse situation and needed stitched up,or a bullet cut out of them .It was a short book, but interestingly told ,with funny stories too,not all sad and tragic ones.I "think" this one was also in the freebies or very low cost, I can't remember ,but it was a quick and interesting book . 3/5

I enjoyed the warm frankness of the stories in this book very much. It really breathed life and gave a real sense of dignity and community to doctors in this region of the US, and the many colorful personalities they see as patients. Each story was a short read, making it a perfect morning read, but don't let the brevity fool you - the author packs a lot of punch, meaning and history into each story, ultimately giving you the feeling that you've just gotten done listening to a story being told by an old friend. Some of the stories were laugh-out-loud funny, some were just charming and endearing, and others will break your heart, but they were all affecting, and I'm glad I read this.

This was a nice short book. It took me a few days to read it, but that is because they were days when I had to do other things as well. If it had been a lazy day with nothing else to do but read and I had a nice fire in the fireplace I could have easily finished it in one sitting. Part of that is because I really enjoyed the book and it was really entertaining. Jourdan has collected stories from her father and other Country Doctors in the Appalachian Mountains. They tell what it is like to practice in small communities where sometimes the doctor has a hard time getting to the patient or vice versa, where often the patients cannot pay, and where they do not always have access to the latest equipment and/or medicines.Although many of the patients (and even the doctors) are "characters", as Jourdan describes them, she does not seem to be making fun of them for the entertainment of the reader. She is just telling their stories. Some of the stories are inspiring, some of them are touching, many of them are funny, and all of them are enjoyable.

I am from eastern Kentucky, about 80 miles from the area the author returns to in her book. I got the book with an expectation of reading a book about the folks "back home"... and it was.. but, what a wonderful surprise this lady is as an author! Vernon Edwards and Carolyn Jourdan are my two favorite authors. This book will make you laugh out loud, cry without embarrassment, and educate you on the ways of humble people just trying to eke out a living in the best way they know how. Her writing is remarkable from all perspectives and I hated to move quickly through the book because I did not want it to end. But, you can read this over time without frustration or at a single sitting with great joy. I wish she had started writing decades ago so that we, her eager readers, could enjoy her skills over and over and over.

Carolyn Jourdan's father was a country doctor in eastern Tennessee's Smokey Mountains. She was a lawyer for a U. S Senate committee. When her mother became ill, she went home to help out temporarily as a receptionist in his office. The couple of days she expected to be there turned into four years. Having grown up in that poverty stricken area, she realized that there were many dedicated doctors who were dedicated to helping the people living there and that they would have some very interesting experiences. This book is their stories.In "Better Late Than Never," a man who lived a solitary, self-sufficient life on his farm. When he was old and ill and confined to a hospital bed, he told his doctor about being a Marine in World War II. His story and the result of him telling it to the doctor is an amazing tale."Uncle Eli" was a pharmacist who was asked to fill in for the local doctor when the doctor died. His story is how he was able to adapt his skills and accessible remedies to the needs of the people and, again, has a very unexpected ending.Another story is about a five-year-old girl who calls for help because there is smoke in her house and she can't wake up the rest of the family. She hangs up before telling him who she is or where she lives.Guns are involved in several stories. "Tennessee is nicknamed `The Volunteer State' because it consistently contributes a high percentage of volunteers to the military," Those soldiers "are more likely to be killed or wounded in battle than soldiers from any other state." The state also produces a large number of military snipers. Guns are part of life from childhood.A pharmacist told the author about what he had to go through to get help after a fall. No one was around and he miraculously had to get out of the woods and drive himself to the hospital. The conversation between him and the ER nurse when he tried to come in using his rifle as a cane is priceless."Deliverance" is about a man who wanted to float down a river before the area was flooded by the TVA. He borrowed a canoe, though he had never been in one, and took a shortcut through a major white water area. Ingenuity and a lot of luck saved him and the canoe."The Good, But Confused, Samaritans" was equal to the best of Tim Conway on the "Carol Burnett Show." It's about a courier from a pathology lab who has an automobile accident after picking up a lot of specimens and other things. He wasn't seriously hurt, but my side hurt from laughing as I read and pictured it.Sometimes country doctors have to make quick decisions. "Tough Choices" is one such example when the doctor was called because a twenty-three years old man fell 75 feet in a mine. Certain that he was dead, the miners called to have the doctor recover the body. When he finally reached him, the unconscious man was lying across jagged rock, still breathing but his lungs were filling with blood. He had probably suffered multiple broken bones, including his legs, back, and neck. He possibly had brain damage as well. If he lived, he would likely be a quadriplegic. The doctor's options were to let him die quickly and quietly or to try to save his life.A new doctor has to establish a reputation. Sometimes a life is saved even if the doctor isn't sure what to do. Sometimes a simple remedy works and impresses the people around who don't understand the science behind it. And sometimes all it takes if an accurate diagnosis and undoing what damage other people, with the best intentions, have inflicted.Jourdan writes about hospitals refusing to treat people because they were black and having a cross burned in their yard because her father helped a black man. Her father believed that "most of the truly disabled people were in no position to negotiate the complicated state bureaucracy, so only con artists had what it took to game the system persuasively and persistently enough to get declared disabled. Jourdan mourns the changes in the health care system which have distanced the doctor and the patient.Reading this well-written short book was a delight.This book was a free Amazon download. Having read it, I would have paid for it.

Quite entertaining. First time I've read anything by Carolyn Jourdan, it won't be the last.

Loved her style of writing. The mix of humor, humanity and medicine was truly a beautiful read. Am off to find more of her books!

Just finished reading this book which is filled with short, entertaining stories or quotes about doctors experiences. Thoroughly enjoyed how it was written and the insight it gives into their unpredictable working lives

Great stories of hidden places,loved it ,told with skill and compassion,thank goodness for people like these doctors...really great people john.

Was wonderful to be taken back to the workload of the only GP for miles around where you lived. The Americian lifestyle was probably much the same as the Australian style, apart from the geographics. Great to have the stories on paper.Lyndall