Health problems

Abstract

It was back in England with Humphrey Lyttelton that I had my very first encounter with the terrible luck that was to follow me for years later. I was playing with Humph one night when I felt a pang in my groin. I did not know at the time what a hernia felt like, but I knew that it hurt to play after about an hour. I told Humph, in earnest, that I didn’t feel too well and that I was going to try to take it easy that night. I know that he must have thought that I was pulling a wrestler’s trick on him but this time I was really sincere, although I know he didn’t believe me. I continued to play with him and it seemed to get worse. Finally I went to the doctor and he told me that I had a hernia—not from playing, but from carrying too heavy suitcases. Sometimes in Europe, when there are no porters around, you have to carry your own luggage and sometimes the distance from the train to the station can be quite long.