Eulogy for my sphygmomanometer
By Dr. Robert Hage, MD
Eulogy for my sphygmomanometer
Dr. Robert Hage, MD
People lauded you for low readings,
Yet cursed your highs with a sigh.
You instilled fear in many a soul,
With just a squeeze upon their arm's lie.
Parted from Methyldopa, a friend once near,
With ACE and Nifedipine, never in cheer.
They lowered your values, causing disdain,
While Mercury, your companion, bore the strain.
They, culprits to your lowering tide,
While Mercury, your steadfast mate,
Bore the brunt, stood by your side,
In pressure's grasp, resilient, innate.
Rest now, my dear companion of years,
Consider your mission complete and serene,
Join me in retirement, free from all fears,
For they deem you toxic, a relic unseen.
Dr. Robert Hage, MD, is an anatomist, retired otolaryngologist and professor emeritus in the Department of Medical Humanities and History of Medicine. Dr. Hage shares, in relation to his work: “I love all forms of art. I did not replace my trusted sphygmomanometer with an electronic device. It had style. We were partners. We both retired at the same time. Although considered toxic nowadays, it is safe with me.”