And how is sir today?

A long time ago, when I was a lean young surgeon lieutenant drifting agreeably on locum duties through a series of naval ships and establishments, the calm of the sickbay would be ruffled from time to time by the arrival of a patient of the lofty rank of commander or captain. In one naval air station I learnt to my surprise that even admirals got ill sometimes.

In sickbays these great beasts of the naval jungle (so to …