Why did Mr. Gilbert telephone Dr. Millington?
While John Gilbert was in hospital,
he asked his doctor to tell him
whether his operation had been successful,
but the doctor refused to do so.
The following day,
the patient asked for a bedside telephone.
When he was alone,
he telephoned the hospital exchange
and asked for Doctor Millington.
When the doctor answered the phone,
Mr. Gilbert said he was inquiring about a certain patient,
a Mr. John Gilbert.
He asked if Mr. Gilbert's operation had been successful
and the doctor told him that it had been.
He then asked when Mr. Gilbert would be allowed to
go home and the doctor told him
that he would have to stay
in hosptial for another two weeks.
Then Dr. Millington asked the caller
if he was a relative of the patient.
'No,' the patient answered,
'I am Mr. John Gilbert.'