ALBACORA 59 



ful cosmetic effect. But dear Nieves certainly was a 

 comfort. 



Later in the week Jo Manning and Walt Gorman were 

 to learn of Nieves' skill in remedying a universal in- 

 testinal complaint, but that morning I was frankly de- 

 lighted to have Dr. Lombardy take over, despite his 

 ominous advance billing as "foremost surgeon in 

 Iquique." 



Many of my friends who are physicians tell me that 

 patients are in the worst possible position to judge the 

 skills of their doctors. Certainly when Dr. Lombardy 

 worked his hands across my hip, I did not have a bird's- 

 eye view of his professional technique. But there is a 

 certain manner some physicians have that invariably 

 inspires confidence. Perhaps some poor physicians can 

 affect this manner, too, but I've found that I can often 

 come to the correct conclusion about a doctor's abilities 

 from the impression he makes on me. Dr. Lombardy at 

 once seemed competent enough to cheer me even in my 

 chilly pickle-green prison cell. 



"I am certain that the hip is not broken," he said, 

 when the examination was over, "but I think we should 

 have X-rays to be sure. The ligaments are badly twisted 

 and I want to be positive that nothing else is wrong." 



"X-rays," I said, "in Iquique?" 



"Yes," he said. "Perhaps not as good a machine as 

 you find in New York, but one that we are grateful to 

 have at all." Then Dr. Lombardy left to arrange for the 



