The Myth of Dr. Kugelman

The Greek god Zeus is depressed for no one has worshiped him for almost two thousand years. At the same time, he suffers from gastrointestinal maladies which have not been remedied by the mythological methods of the physician-god Asclepius and his four physician daughters. He subsequently sends Hercules and King Midas to earth in to attempt to bring Greek mythology to modern man but they are miserable failures and convert to Christianity. At the Supreme God's yearly checkup, Asclepius tells Zeus that all of his problems are psychosomatic and that even twenty-first century medicine would be unable to alleviate his symptoms. On a bet, Asclepius offers to return to earth to prove that medicine today is inferior to the ways of the ancients. He joins Dr. Norman Kugelman, an ethical and hardworking Jewish gastroenterologist in New Jersey, who is enmeshed in a failing marriage. Asclepius finds out that current medical practice is much more difficult than he ever imagined and is humbled by the experience. Zeus can no longer stand the pain and he visits Kugelman on earth for a second opinion which includes a colonoscopy. The gastroenterologist makes an unexpected diagnosis while at the same time Zeus gives Kugelman some valuable godly advice but the age old question: did man invent the gods or did god invent man, remains unanswered.

Autorentext

David Margolis MD Bio David Margolis retired from the practice of gastroenterology in 2013 to become a full time writer. His stories have appeared in The Canadian Medical Association Journal, JAMA: Internal Medicine, Missouri Medicine, HumorPress.com, Long Story Short, Still Crazy, and The Jewish Light of St. Louis. His first book, "Looking Behind: The Gaseous Life of a Gastroenterologist", a collection of biographical and humorous short stories, was released last year. He resides in St. Louis, MO with his wife Laura, Bernie the poodle, and a set of golf clubs.