Grin and bare feet

Grin and bare feet

One of my patients, a Second World War veteran, related to me the following story: An acquaintance of his we'll call Fred was determined not to be drafted into the army. Having heard that individuals who were edentulous (missing all their teeth) were medically rejected for conscription, he paid to have all his perfectly healthy teeth extracted.

While lining up for his army medical, my patient noticed Fred in the queue just in front of him. Fred grinned toothlessly, while further ahead, an obviously middle-aged man argued vociferously with the doctor. The middle-aged gent, too old to be drafted, was determined to do his duty to his country by enlisting. The medic explained that while not too old for duty, he couldn't accept him for service because of his lack of teeth.

When Fred's turn came, he approached the doctor, still smiling. The physician, however, didn't even glance at his mouth and asked Fred to take off his shoes.

He looked closely, then bellowed to an orderly with a clipboard: "Four F, flat feet. Rejected for service!"

George Burden, Elmsdale, N.S.