Mannweiler, David

English

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20 :\1.\1' ['SCRI1'TSwrote in his Ethics, "The primary and sole foundations of virtue orof the propel- conducts of life is to seek our own profit." Hence anyaltruistic action-e-indeed, any action of which I can conceive-c-has asits basis personal gain, -The compelling problem now becomes the differentiation be-tween admirable al~1 disasreeable manifestations of the soul's innerdrive for fulfillment. Hc~ can the altruist be better-loved than theegotist if they both are actually self-seeking? The solution to thisenigma is inextricably linked with another mystery not designed forman to comprehend: it is linked with the explanation of man's pur-pose for existing on earth. When we understand what our basic goalin life was meant to be, we will understand what determines the mostacceptable personal needs. If, for example, we were created to pro-gress materially, the man who has a drive to explore science or helpothers do so is at the summit of selfless endeavor.Only one trait of mankind mars the s11100th fabric into which Ihave woven all of humanity's efforts on earth. In my cold approachto even the most graciously-rendered of services, I have not providedfor one man's instinctive, thoughtless risk of his own Iife to saveanother's. Here we m,lY advance a theory which sounds a note ofhope for the petty, selfish existence we seem to be leading. Perhapsall of mankind is one great lJeing exhibiting self-interest in its ownentirety rather than in its component parts. \,Ve may all indeed bea part of the main to which John Donne refers in telling us, "No manis an island entire unto hirnself."A Logical Conclusion-s-Don'tDavid MannweilerTo TUE average medical layman, the three days .l spent in bedwith a minor ailment several years ago would be nothing. Butto me these few clays marked a time when J. became aware thatI was suddenly allergic to the slightest dose of penicillin and had togive up all antibiotic drugs. This discovery seemed especially pe-culiar to me because until this time I had always taken my penicillinalong with the best of the seventh-graders and had been able to holdthe drug with no af teref f ects. These were not facts that I particu-larly boasted about, but nevertheless, I did feel a certain sense of be-longing in knowing I was accepted as being normal.Heeding my mother's frantic call to save her from a child stay-ing' home from school, the family doctor, a man I trusted medicallyand hated financially. came to give me the penicillin shot that wasintended to get me well as soon as possible. I looked forward to hisvisit with the same apprehension any twelve-year-old boy would havewho knows he is about to be shot with a hypodermic needle in a verytender spot.:MANUSCRII'TS 21When the Ioul act was finished, the doctor and Illy motherwalkecl to the door to say goodby. When she returned, her [aceforetold she had noticed a rather abrupt change in my appearance.Small things-like swollen cheeks that were slowly closing my eyes,swollen ears that were breaking out in hives, and little red spots allover my exposed arms and legs-e-caught her attention.The doctor returned immediately to the scene of his crime andannounced his belief that my reaction was merely a passing thing andI would soon get over it. For the next few clays as I lay in bed andscratched, this bold statement gave me much comfort. To test histheory the doctor gave me a small dose of diluted penicilli n severalweeks later and immediately I became quite bloated again. Hefirmly resolved that 1 was completely allergic to penicillin and shouldnever a.gajn take another shot of the drug.My allergy problem with penicillin was mentioned to a closefriend of the family who is a vice-president of the Eli Lilly DrugCompany. This self-dubbed angel-of-mercy presented me with asmall vial of a new wonder-drug that was supposed to be as effectiveas penicillin but lacked the aftereffects 0 f the drug. This new serumhad been tested all over the country on penicillin-allergic people, andof the thousands of tests only four people had been found who could110ttake the drug.A small injection of this drug found me to be number five.It was at this point that I swore off all antibiotics. My ideathat all penicillin shots would result in the same reaction was nowendorsed by several doctors and the results of several experiments.They carried their warnings so far that I am now afraid to takeeven aspirin for fear of being branded a major scientific observationcase and placed in a glass bottle for all to observe.The Lilly executive attempted to point out the advantages of mycondition such as the almost certain medical discharge from the Armybecause of the lack of activities a bloated soldier can perform, themany occasions my condition will lend itsel f to stopping a friendfrom launching into details on his latest operation, and the idea thatit marks me a medical wonder. The idea of being recognized in myown Iifetime, even as a medical wonder, has some merit, I suppose,but this too is of little consolation when I remember those awfulthree clays when J first discovered the nature of: my condition.

A Logical Conclusion--Don’t\u27

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A Logical Conclusion--Don’t\u27

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