Student Exploratory Workshops

A very interesting advertisement for anyone aspiring to become a doctor.  I wonder how the response was. 

Tong Wah Cave, Ipoh

A couple of days ago a patient told me about the contributions of Leong Sin Nam on the development of the Tong Wah Cave in Ipoh.  This is something new to me and a search on the web showed the following results:

"The Tong Wah Cave Temple was founded about 140 years ago by some monks and later financed by philanthropists of the Kinta Valley, which was once well known as the number one producer of tin in the world.  Among the generous individuals who help set up the committee of the temple include Leong Sin Nam, who is an ex-tin miner.

Located about 2 km from the Lost World of Tambun, Ipoh, this cave is visible from the Tambun road after passing the Lost of Tambun and the Banjaran Hotspring. Almost every week, the temple receives a few hundred visitors and worshipers from all over Malaysia as well as from other countries. The temple is also an attraction to many tourist now. No entrance is charged but visitors can make any contribution towards the maintenance and development of the cave."

MACE 2013 Programme for Doctors

Whiteaways Ipoh

 

Scanned photo of an original receipt from Whiteaways Ipoh dated 1969.  Chance find in one of my toy boxes.  As I can remember, Whiteaways was very much a novelty shop with lots of imported goods.  It was located in the colonial building besides Miners Arm in Jalan Maharajalela.   The building is currently unoccupied.  They were selling very expensive Toddler Towels then at $3.00!  The receipt was rather elaborate with lots of advertising behind and caring messages for the customers.  

Whiteaway, Laidlaw & Co., often referred to simply as Whiteaways, was indeed a prominent department store chain in the early 20th century. Founded in Calcutta in 1882 by Scotsmen E. Whiteaway and Robert Laidlaw, the store quickly became known as the “Selfridges of the East” due to its high-end European products. It catered to Europeans and affluent locals in over 20 cities across India, the Federated Malay States (FMS), and the Straits Settlements, including Singapore, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, and others.

The store’s expansion reached even further, establishing branches in Canada, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Argentina, and Kenya. In places like Ipoh, Whiteaways was the leading local emporium, offering a range of products that appealed to the European expatriates, the wealthy Towkays, and the Baba Nonya community. Their offerings included fashionable clothing, furnishings, sports accessories, and a variety of goods suitable for the tropical climate.

Whiteaways’ history is a testament to the global reach and influence of department stores during that era, serving as a bridge between Eastern and Western commerce and culture. The legacy of such stores reflects the changing dynamics of trade, fashion, and consumerism during the height of the colonial period.

Reference:

1. Biblioasia.

2. The Whiteaways Arcade

"A Grandfather Story" on Leong Sin Nam

Thank you for your continuing interest in this book.  This book is out of stock since 2011.  However you will still be able to read this book in the National Library and Perak State Library.  An account of the Life and Times of Leong Sin Nam is also available in the Wikipedia.  The second edition of this book is forthcoming and will include more details revealed recently.  I am currently writing a manual titled "Breathing Better Together".

Spirography

Used this set to draw beautiful spirographs when I was a teenager.  Still remember how many times I have to trace the patterns before getting them right.  There were 4 colour pens.  Nowadays these circular patterns can easily be created using a computer software like Draw plus.  I don't think these kind of art tools are available on sale anymore.

Modified Borg Dypnea Scale

 

Took 2 hours to produce this Scale.  Couldn't find the correct combination of words and pictures in the web to make it easier for patients to indicate their level of breathlessness during stress testing.  Will also be using it for the 6 minute walk test. 

 

 

Patient Instructions for Borg Dyspnoea Scale 

“This is a scale that asks you to rate the difficulty of your breathing. It starts at number 0 where your breathing is causing you no difficulty at all and progresses through to number 10 where your breathing difficulty is maximal. How much difficulty is your breathing causing you right now?”