017
A Frightening Experience

Talking of vegetarianism, when I was about to enter Liverpool University at the age of forty-three - I was asked to have a thorough physical examination by the authorities before they would grant me permission to embark on the course of Linguistic studies. 

I went to my GP  (General Practitioner) for this check up.  He gave me a comprehensive test - then he sat at his desk - shuffled his papers rather nervously - and looked up at me. 

"Are you driving your car Mr. Evans?"   He said.     

Not really understanding what he was getting at I replied -

"Why...Yes!"   

He looked at me grimly  - and continued,  

"Leave your keys with me here - I want you to go immediately by ambulance to the Royal Liverpool Hospital, for your heart-beat is only half of the rate it should be, or should I say - half the rate of the average man of your age!"   

He telephoned for an ambulance, and before I knew it, I was in a ward having my heart monitored - x-rays - blood-tests - urine tests - cardiograms etc., etc.      
After 4 hours of tests, I was finally brought before the Heart Specialist.  He glanced through all the test results, and looked from his desk at me quizzically

- "Are you an athlete Mr. Evans?"
  
"No Doctor."  I replied.   

"Then do you take an uncommon amount of exercise - swimming - walking - sport?"                   

"No Doctor." I said, "No more than most men."    

" Well Mr. Evans...” He looked puzzled... " You have ‘Brachycardia’, which means that your heart is beating very slowly.     This usually occurs in athletes because of the exercise they get, and it affects their heart-muscles.   The amount of blood that is pumped through into the heart increases in volume - therefore the heart rate slows naturally, because the heart doesn't need to beat so often.  This has happened to you - and yet... and yet I can't see a reason for it to happen."   

"Do you think that perhaps because I am a vegetarian it might have something to do with it doctor?"  I smiled hopefully.

"Nobody told me that you're a vegetarian!" he said.  

"Well nobody asked me."  I answered.    

"That's the reason then!" he replied.   "Because you haven't clogged your vascular and arterial system up with a load of cholesterol - your veins and arteries allow a full blood-flow - this means that your heart has no need to pump so many times per minute. Meat-eating people's circulatory systems narrow, causing an incremental increase in heart-beat rate as the years go by!"  

He continued to congratulate me as he showed me to the door. 

"By the way Mr. Evans," he laid his hand on my shoulder as he bade me goodbye,  "What do you drink when you're out socially?”

At first I mistakenly assumed that he was about to invite me to a pub and buy me a drink!  

“Well usually Whisky - or failing that - red wine - but not in excess!" I stammered.  

"Well Done Mr. Evans!" he cried,   "The Whisky thins the blood and facilitates a more easier flow - and the red wine has certain chemicals beneficial to the vascular' well-being '   - Keep on taking your medicine!   Don't over- do it, and you will live to a ripe old age!   Farewell Mr. Evans - enjoy University!"