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DR.MANGALORE GOPAL KINI: REMINISCENCES Dr. Vissa Ramachandra Rao Former Professor & Head, Department of Anatomy, Madras Medical College, Chennai. FIRST ACQUAINTANCE In a month’s time the paper was ready. One It was January 1939 when I was doing Evening, Dr.Kini sprang a surprise on me, that he was Surgical Posting as a Final Year M.B.B.S. Studentof putting my name as a co-author for the paper entitled: Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam,in the S II Some Observations on Gastric and Duodenal wards of Dr.Mangalore Gopal Kini@, at King George Ulcers in Northern Circars.Even though I protested Hospital, Visakhapatnam.During the rounds, one that I did not deserve the distinction as I was only a morning, Dr.Kini wanted to know if any of the final year student and that the help rendered was mostly analytical. students would like to help him at collecting some Dr.Kini insisted on the inclusion. Further, he observed, information from the hospital records for his forth that on earlier occasions, he has included coming paper on Peptic ulcer. None of the senior final Dr.VenkobaRao, House surgeon and Dr.M.N.Rao, a year students appearing for the Final Year Examination Research Assistant on Nutritional Studies, as co-authors in April 1939 were keen on responding, and I volunteered to two different papers, in recognition of the help they as a Junior Student taking the Final Year rendered. Moreover, he observed that on several Examination of M.B.B.S. in December 1939. occasions Clinical year students co-authored Workers on Scientific Papers as Best with Banting on Studies on Insulin and Jenner on Visual Stria, and that work of merit should not go unrecognised but due credit given for help rendered. It is clearly evident how truly large hearted he was in recognising the spark of merit and give due encouragement as a true scientist would! TURNING POINT One evening on my visit to Dr.Kini at his residence he was surprised to discover that I was son of his good friend Professor Vissa Appa Rao, Principal of the Andhra University Colleges, Waltair. He accused my Father for appraising him that his (Appa Rao’s) son was helping him (Dr.Kini) on his paper though they were play- ing tennis together at the Visakhapatnam Century Club every evening. As a compensation for the lapse he took a promise from Prof. Appa Rao that he would let Dr.Kini took me to the open rack of bound Ramachandra Rao work with him for three years, so that records of ward case sheets, and told me what infor- he could train him in Experimental and Clinical mation I had to pick up and how to record the finding for Surgery.That was how I came to be attached to Dr.Kini the analysis. He asked me to complete the task in 7 days. at Madras Stanley Hospital, First asaSenior I started on the job immediately and completed it in four Housemanand later on as an Honorary House days. On the fifth day I presented the material along Surgeonduring the years – 1940-1945. I was put on a with tabular analytical statement to him at his residence Pilot Study of Infections of the Foot. It was the Sub- in the evening. He was very much pleased and was sur- ject Matter of an Essay which was to be submitted to prised that could do it so quickly and well. Later he asked Association of Surgeons of India in response to their me to collect some more information and analyse it. It Announcement for Awardof a Prize for the best went on like that from one task to another and my work Essay on the Topic from Medical Graduates of less was to his liking and satisfaction. 1 Tamil Nadu Orthopaedic Journal Vol.40, Issue 1, February 2014 than Ten Years of studies. Dr.Kini’s guidance was criti- tries and Regions. cal and helpful in that My Essay was adjudged, by In recognition of the contributions made in the write up Annual Conference of the Association of Surgeons of of an article on Acute Abdomen in general and Ap- India held at Mysore in 1945. With that as a basis Dr.Kini pendicitis in particular was published in the Journal could get the Sanction of Finance for the conduct of an of Indian Medical Association, 1950, my name was Enquiry into the Infections of the Foot under the included as co-author of the paper. auspices of the Indian Research Fund Association, Strict Disciplinarian which after Independence in 1947, had become the In- Dr.Kini, the Scientist and Surgeon, was very strict. dian Council of Medical Research. To maintain Discipline among his Associates and Assistants, he would tolerate nothing short of Excel- Research Project at Stanley Hospital lence and Superlative in their Efforts. Even a Senior It was my privilege to have been selected as Assistant of his Team would run through his criticism, Research Assistant in the Enquiry conducted at the when he answered that he would do his best, pat would Madras Stanley Hospital, with Dr.Kini as the Director come the retort from Dr.Kini “Your best may be nothing of Enquiry for period of 21 months, 1946-1948. As the to me Mister”. He would address his Colleagues, Assis- Superintendent of the Hospital, Dr.Kini had aFoot Clinic tants and House men as ‘Mister’, a practice in vogue opened with orders that All Cases of Infections and with the British Surgeons. Equally endearing was the Injuries of the Foot be referred to also appointed to the term of address to his students and the housemen as Enquiry. I could get a lot of Clinical Material, which on ‘Sony’ and ‘Mammosel’. Analysis was the basis of a Research Paper on Tropi- Unfortunately Dr.Kini was of short temper and cal Ulcers in Madras Cityunder the Joint Authorship would shout at Nurses and Assistants if they fell short of of Dr.V.R.Rao, Dr.M.G.Kini and Ananthakrishnan his expectations or committed any mistakes. And most (Clinical Assistant) and was published in the Indian surprising was that – at the end of a ‘heavy’ day he Medical Gazette. Also a part of the work done under would call his assistants and say, “I am sorry Mister the Enquiry served as a basis for submission of my Thesis that I shouted too much at you today”, or “Please for the award of M.Sc.(Anatomy, Medical) by Excuse Me” or “I Excuse You”. He would insist on the Research, of Andhra University in the year - 1949. Assistant saying “I Excuse you, Sir” and not leave The entire Report of the Findings on the him otherwise. He would add that he will not be able Enquiry into the Infections of the Foot was submit- to sleep at night if the assistant did not excuse him ted to the Indian Research Fund Association in 5 Parts. for his short temper. Later it was published asMemoir No.37 of the Indian Many Good Qualities Council of Medical Research in March 1951, under the Dr.Kini had many Good Qualities of Head and Joint Authorship of Dr.V.Ramachandra Rao and Heart. Staff nurses shuddered to assist him as Opera- Dr.M.G.Kini. It was on the insistence of Dr.Kinithat my tion Theatre Staff as he would lose temper and shout at name was put as the First Author in Recognition of the their shortcomings. Also he was exacting on the work hard work done by me (much to the dismay and displea- Schedule. He was too aware of it all, and would sure of the Authorities of ICMR). compensate on occasions by giving them Scientific Enquiry and Critical Analysis (lavish)presents as rewards for Endurance and De- Dr.Kini always felt that since the statements and votion to work. observations in Text Books written by the Continental ‘Work was Worship’ to Dr.Kini. His care for and other Authors were based on the material available his patientswas something unique. He would even outside India and were not reflecting the Indian condi- forego his lunch while attending to them. He tions, they should not be taken as gospel truths. One remembered every patient inclusive of minor details should have an open mind and base one’s experi- as to the bed he occupied in the ward and would ence on material available in India and in the sub- identify him when he revisited for a check-up or continent where one works.He maintained with great report. care the Findings of Clinical Material from his Wards, Specialisation in Orthopaedic Surgery Outdoor Department and Consultations.He would Dr.Kini has specialised in Orthopaedic Surgery with a meticulously have a Follow-up to note the Progress, M.Ch. from Liverpool and F.R.C.P.S. from U.K. As there accurately. All his Clinical Notes and Research Pa- was no separate post of Orthopaedic Surgeon in any of pers were based on such material. He would com- the Collegiate Hospitals in the State of Madras Presi- pare the Findings from his Data with those of the dency except in the Government General Hospital, Ma- Textbooks and Research Papers from Other Coun- dras, he was to be head of a general surgical unit at the 2 Tamil Nadu Orthopaedic Journal Vol.40, Issue 1, February 2014 King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam and later at the then, seeking is Advice and Help. He encouraged me to Government Stanley Hospital, Madras. Dr.Kini was very take up Anatomy as a career, with a reply “Don’t be a methodical in his Surgical Craftsmanship.

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