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Lion in the Night is a compilation of short stories from the medical practice of Dr. Jack Armstrong. In this set of stories Dr. Armstrong provides a personal account of his interactions with patients and life’s issues during healing. They provide clear, entertaining and humble visions and principles about healing through the lens of a physician caregiver.

Dr. William Osler summarizes the following about the medical profession. “I would rather tell you of a profession honored above all others; one which while calling forth the highest powers of the mind, brings you into such warm personal contact with your fellow men that the heart and sympathies of the coldest nature must needs be thereby. Will not your whole energies be spent in befriending the sick and suffering? in helping those who cannot help themselves? in rescuing valuable lives from the clutch of grim death? in cheering the loving nurses of the sick, who often hang upon your words with a most touching trust? Aye!11

Osler describes Dr. Armstrong and his profession. The medical profession is truly a gift for those who enter into the ethical/moral contact of dealing with human misery. Dr. Armstrong simply and elegantly describes through his cases in this book that despite all the technology and knowledge, the clinician’s gift is caring for his or her patients in need (one at a time and necessarily entering into their private space). The medical profession must never forget this gift of care and the special relationship it holds with patients’ health. Despite all the CT/ MRI scans and electronic medical records today, nothing will substitute for listening to the patient! This is Dr. Armstrong’s message and career; it is well described in this book which is useful to caregivers and patients alike. Human misery will continue but healing starts with the gifts of medical professional like Dr. Armstrong who listen and care.

John R. Perfect, MD

James B. Duke Professor of Medicine

Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases

Duke University Medical Center

1. Counsels and Ideals from the writings of William Osler and selected aphorisms. The Classic of Medicine Library. Birmingham. pp 129–30, 1985.