From treating a man with a bullet lodged in his skull in Perth, Scotland, to a young Bermudian vomiting copious amounts of blood — there’s no denying Gordon Black’s 57-year medical career has been an interesting one.

Now retired, he has decided to share some of his experiences — and the progression of medicine — in a book, ‘General Practice in Bermuda’. He has spent more than five decades working in general practice and obstetrics in Bermuda.

“It was always suggested by heart specialist Shane Marshall that I should write a book about medical practice in Bermuda,” Dr Black said.

“I decided to put my thoughts down on paper because I know people are interested in medicine and the progression of medicine and seeing how have things changed over the years.

“The book discusses that and is also about the history of medicine in Bermuda.”

Doctors used simple X-ray machines to identify internal problems in the old days, but ultrasounds, CT scans and other technologies have transformed the practice of medicine over the past 15 years, he said.

“The medical community all over the world has become more and more specialised as they introduced new technologies like the MRI,” Dr Black said. “I practised in the day they didn’t have anything like that.”

Despite the changes, he said he has always loved practising medicine and felt privileged to work in an occupation where he looked forward to going to work on Monday morning.

“Now I miss seeing patients and keep bumping into them in town and they give me a hug,” Dr Black said.

He finished writing the book in just a few weeks. The challenge was finding a publisher, but a British group eventually came forward and spent months corresponding back and forth with him to make changes.

The feedback from friends and family has been positive.

“Most people who have read it said it’s great, but you never know yourself if it’s any good,” he said.

“I think it’s a good book for anyone interested in medicine and there is a lot of talk of Bermuda’s hospital and the way it developed.”

‘General Practice in Bermuda’, $24.95, is available at Brown & Company, and Bermuda Book Store on Queen Street, Hamilton.