Say No to Death
Dymphna Cusack is a writer of world acclaim whose works have been translated into many languages. She belongs to the famous galaxy of modern Australian realistic writers.
C
usack’s
works were first published in the mid 1930s. She wrote a number of
plays and novels (the novels Southern Steel, 1953, The Sun in Exile,
1955, A Bough in Hell, 1971). Her writings treat a wide range of
topics involving social and moral problems essential to Australian
people and to the entire progressive world.
‘Say No to Death’ is one of Cusack’s most popular novels. It was published in 1951. The plot of the novel is a dramatic love story of a twenty-five-year-old soldier Bart Templeton, who is back home after the Second World War, and a young typist Jan Blakeley. Their happy days do not last long. Jan suddenly falls ill with tuberculosis. Fifteen months of the desperate struggle for the girl’s life end in failure…
In spite of its tragic end, ‘Say No to Death’ is an optimistic novel. Bart Templeton acquires friends who share his grief. It is evident that Bart will find his path and his noble aim in life and will say his firm “no” to death.
The doctor examined her throat. “Nothing wrong there,” Jan looked at his magnificent head, his broad shoulders, the strength of his white hands, and felt completely reassured. He had attended her when she had pleurisy, and it had always been the same; whenever he came into the room his brisk, easy manner had given her comfort. Now she was both comforted and relieved. He looked up at her with a twinkle in his prominent eyes.
“Not a thing to worry about, my dear Miss Blakeley,” he said, turning on his usual smile. “You look wonderful. Not a trace of that old pleurisy left. Now what you want is plenty of exercise and plenty of sun. Judging by the tan you’ve got, you’ve already been doing that.”
Jan nodded. Her eyes were bright with relief and excitement. It was wonderful to be rid of the dread that had gnawed at her every time she thought of the stains on the handkerchief. She had been almost afraid to ask him, and when she forced herself to ask, her voice was shaking:
“And the blood, Doctor…?”
“Put it out of you mind altogether. Obviously you swallowed a fish-bone and that caused the trouble.” He patted her shoulder paternally. “You’ve been worrying, too, I know.” He towered above her, bluff and hearty, exuding confidence as his eyes twinkled down into hers. “Admit it! With that young man of yours away you were worried, weren’t you?”
Jan bit her lips. Her eyes faltered and she looked away. He laughed. “Well, now he’s back everything will be all right. I hope to hear that you’re going to be married soon. That’ll be the best thing for you.” His voice was fatherly as they moved towards the door. “You know, young women with your men away in the Forces are apt to get a bit neurotic, but everything will be all right now.”
He handed her an envelope. “Get this prescription made up at the chemist’s. It will stop that coughing in the early morning.” He held her hand and she felt well-being and assurance flow into her. Jan went out and stood a moment by the tree, hearing the rain-drops pattering against its leaves.
The doctor’s parting words rang in her ears like a benediction. She didn’t know exactly what she had feared, but all kinds of hazy, unformulated terrors had been in the back of her mind. His words had brushed them aside and his kindly ridicule about neurotic women had made her see how absurd they were.
She stood waiting for the trolley-bus to take her down to the city, where she was meeting Bart for lunch, but her excitement made her so impatient that she could not bear to stand waiting.
She decided that she had plenty of time to walk through Woolloomooloo.
The surge of her excitement and joy rose as she reached the top of the hill where Bart was waiting for her. He saw her coming. She moved with such grace, her beauty so bright in the dull day that he was shaken. This is it, Bart, my boy, he said to himself, this must be the real thing.
When she came up to him, her eyes were warm with welcome, the colour bright in her cheeks from climbing the hill, her breath coming light and quick between her parted lips.
“Hello,” he said, “you’re early.” She smiled.
“Been to the quack?”
She nodded.
“No need to ask what he said?”
The smile lingered on her face.
“You look so healthy. What actually did he say?”
“Just what we thought. It was a fish-bone, of course”.
Bart took her arm. “Anything else?”
“I need plenty of exercise and sun and piles to eat.”
“That suits me, particularly, the eating part. Where do we go?”
“Wherever you like.”
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43 |
Answer the questions.
What did the doctor examine?
What did Jan use to be ill with?
Why did Jan feel comforted and relieved?
When did the doctor attend her?
Why was there nothing to worry about?
What were the doctor’s recommendations?
What made him think that Jan had been doing a lot of exercises?
How did the doctor explain the case?
What were young women apt to with their young men in the Forces?
10. What prescription did the doctor write out?
11. What was still in the back of Jan’s mind?
12. Why was Bart shaken when he saw Jan?
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44 |
Match the beginnings with the endings.
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45 |
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Her fears were removed after the police had told her that the child was safe.
He is a clever boy but has a natural tendency to get into mischief.
The doctor looked at the tongue carefully to see what was wrong.
I formed an opinion about his manner and concluded that he was guilty.
Fear and anxiety tormented her heart.
The police were unable to find any sign of the thief.
We were glad to become free of our overcoats.
It’s a pleasure that everybody is beaming with assurance.
Your words have encouraged me.
10. He knew his aunt sufficiently well to guess that she had something important to tell him about.
11. I’m really anxious about my sister.
12. Several doctors looked after the General when he was on his deathbed.
13. You look so frustrated. Put all the troubles out of your mind.
14. There is nothing that can give me peace.
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47 |
Translate into Ukrainian.
The doctor examined the patient and sent him to hospital for further tests.
Judging by your confidence, the statistics are promising.
We felt relieved at hearing that he was safe and sound.
It was impossible for him to be rid of this bad habit.
He is apt to take to journalism.
I could hardly guess what was in the back of her mind.
What are you worried about?
Only home will give her comfort.
He was exuding confidence and the girl felt reassured.
10. These thoughts are gnawing at me. I must brush them aside.
11. Officers could not find any trace of drugs.
12. Where shall I have the prescription made up?
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48 |
Give the Ukrainian names of the following diseases.
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allergy |
tuberculosis/TB/ |
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bronchitis |
plague |
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quinsy, tonsilitis |
cholera |
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asthma |
heart attack |
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pneumonia |
stroke |
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flue, influenza,grippe |
giddiness |
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diabetes |
haemorrhage |
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diphtheria |
bleeding |
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measles |
burn |
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scarlet fever |
mumps |
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whooping cough |
indigestion |
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smallpox |
upset stomach |
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German measles |
stomachache |
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cancer |
headache |
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chicken-pox |
ear-ache |
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dysentery |
scald |
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rheumatism |
abscess |
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typhoid /fever/ |
sun-stroke |
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49 |
Choose the correct answer.
1. She died after a long …..
a) disease b) failing c) illness d) sickness
2. The doctor had three ….. of nose-bleeding in the same day.
a) aspects b) cases c) examples d) illnesses
3. He still suffers from a rare tropical disease which he ….. while in the Congo.
a) contracted b) gained c) infected d) received
4. My grandmother is very old and is not ….. very good health.
a) from b) in c) on d) with
5. The teachers at the school went …. with flu one after another.
a) down b) off c) out d) under
6. Malaria is …..by the female mosquito.
a) broadcast b) sent c) transmitted d) transported
7. Mary is in bed with a ….. attack of flu.
a) hard b) heavy c) large d) severe
8. My brother was ….. ill yesterday and is now in hospital.
a) broken b) caught c) fallen d) taken
9. The school is half empty as a serious epidemic of measles has broken….
a) down b) in c) out d) up
10. Several …… of malaria have been reported.
a) cases b) doses c) occurrences d) types
11. To our ….. , Mary's illness proved not to be as serious as we had feared.
a) anxiety b) eyes c) judgement d) relief
12. He ….. a rare disease when he was working in the hospital.
a) caught b) infected c) suffered d) took
13. My headaches are usually brought ….. by worry.
a) in b) on c) up d) out
14. The doctor examined him carefully and ….. influenza.
a) concluded b) decided c) diagnosed d) realised
15. Some diseases ….. quickly from one person to another.
a) catch b) get about c) move d) spread
16. Tropical diseases are comparatively …… in Poland.
a) few b) rare c) scarce d) slight
17. It was a minor illness and he soon got ….. it.
a) around b) on with c) over d) up to
18. The ….. last thing I want now is to catch a cold.
a) extremely b) most c) utterly d) very
19. I can never touch lobster because I am ….. to shellfish.
a) allergic b) infected c) sensible d) sensitive
20. She couldn't go out because she had a ….. cold.
a) flowing b) leaking c) running d) streaming
21. The local medical officer reported a serious ….. of food-poisoning.
a) event b) incident c) outbreak d) state
22. The patient ….. his illness down to a virus infection.
a) laid b) placed c) put d) traced
23. You keep sneezing. You must have caught …..
a) a cold b) a cough c) a headache d) an illness
24. The children were suffering from the ….. of the hot weather.
a) consequences b) effects c) products d) results
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50 |
Read the article. Work in pairs and discuss the health problems people might have in the 21st century.
“Who should get what?”
Heart Disease is often hereditary but can also be caused through bad diet and lack of exercise. It can be prevented, and public awareness levels are high in some countries. However, some sections of the community seem to ignore advice. Treatment is possible, but prevention is obviously preferable in the long term.
Cancer takes many forms and is caused by a number of factors. There is strong evidence that smoking and other lifestyle factors contribute significantly especially to lung and throat cancers. Treatment can be through chemotherapy and success rates are increasing. Some people believe that this, like heart disease, is self-inflicted, and that patients should be asked to pay extra for their treatment.
HIV/AIDS awareness levels around the world vary a great deal as to the causes and risks associated with this disease. It is preventable but, as yet, although there is treatment available, there is no known cure. Research continues in the hope of finding one.
Malaria is a disease which is spread via mosquito bites. It is easily prevented with the use of mosquito repellents: electronic devices, creams and sprays. It can be also avoided by taking pills regularly which protect the body from the disease. Malaria cannot be cured as such, though its symptoms, such as earache, fever, and shaking are treatable.
Road Traffic Accidents. Road safety standards vary a lot from country to country. Drink driving and the use of unsafe vehicles contribute to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Publicity, campaigns and stricter laws have made a dramatic difference in some countries.
Diarrhoea is one of the most common causes of death, especially among children, in Africa. It is caused by polluted water and a lack of food hygiene. It can be prevented by making water supplies safe. It is also important that public awareness is raised as to the causes of water contamination. Diarrhoea itself is easily treated with rehydration medicine.
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51 |
Find the appropriate word for the definitions.
a) _______________(adjective) passed on from parents to child
b) ______________(noun) the use of medicine or therapy to make a sick person well again
c)_______________(noun) smooth, thick liquid which you put on or rub into your skin
d)_______________(noun) small, solid pieces of medicine to swallow, e.g. aspirin
e)_______________(noun) an injection which prevents a person from getting a disease
f)_______________(noun) a change in your body which is a sign of your illness
g)_______________(noun) the removal of a disease or illness so that a person is well again.
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52 |
Read the following quotation and discuss it.
Today’s medicine is at the end of its road. It can no longer be transformed, modified, readjusted. That’s been tried too often. Today’s medicine must DIE in order to be reborn. We must prepare its complete renovation. (Maurice Delort)
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53 |
Translate the following text into English.