HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1953-07-15, Page 1Physician Mourned
Dr. R. C. Redmond
LAST WEEK AT WINGHAM
GENERAL HOSPITAL
Admitted to Hospital 49
Out Patients 26
Operations 13
X-Rays 44
Births 10
Deaths 1
These facts are published weekly
to acquaint the community with
the services of our hospital.
FORDWICH TEENAGERS
HAVE NARROW SQUEAK
By Mrs.- W. Sothern
An accident which might have had
serious results to three teenagers hap-
pened about 10.15 on Friday night
when a car owned and driven by
David Aldrich swung out of control
and missed a turn near Fordwich.
Doug Brown and Donald Doig were
thrown into a field on the McCracken
farm when the car turned over sever-
al times.
Dr, Forde, of Fordwich, took David
and Donald to the hospital at Listowel
but they were able to return to their
homes on Saturday. No bones were
broken although David has a very
sore back and Donald's both ankles
are badly sprained. Doug suffered face
lacerations and had his glasses bro-
ken.
The car was a total wreck.
3=Year Old Driver
Ends in Fence
David MacRae, aged 3, son of Rev,
and Mrs. D. J. MacRae, United Church
minister, in Wingham, had a try at
driving his father's car, and didn't
seem to care for the experience.
Mr, MacRae had been visiting at
the hospital and had left the car, with
David-in it, outside on the street. Al-
though the hand brake was on and
the car in gear, David managed some-
how to release the brake, and get the•
car out of gear, at Which the car roll-
ed down the high side of the street
and across the road.
Mr. McPhail, who was working in
his garden at the time, heard the child
cry and saw the car moving, and both
he and Jack Donaldson, who was
nearby, rushed over to stop it.
By the time they got there, however,
'the -car had run into the fence beside
Jack Templeman's barn, and the jour-
ney was over. No damage was done to
David, the ear or the fence. But for a
couple of -hi-Mutes, David was a very
frightened little boy.
NEW WINO APPROVER'
BY MORRIS COUNCIL
The Morris Township council, at
their regular meeting last week,
agreed to accept their percentage of
the cost of a new hospital wing, in
accordance with the number of their
patients admitted to the hospital
during the past five years. The motion
was made by Charles Coultes and sec-
onded by William Elston
Morris is the first of the municipal-
ities in the Wngham Hospital area to
accept its share of the cost of the
proposed new wing, The town of
Wingham has previously announced
its intention of paying Wingham's
share in the new building, at the town
council meeting last month.
CLOSING NOTICE
Rapp's Bakery will be closp,c1 for
holiday July 20 to 25, inclusive, F15b
SEND $100 CHEQUE AS
TOKEN CONTRIBUTION
An unexpected token of appreci-
tion in the form of a cheque for $100
AVM received recently by the Wing-
ham General Hospital.
At the meeting of the hospital
board last week a letter was read
from David H. Gallagher, board of
overseas missions, united Church
of Canada, thanking the hospital
for their kindness during the hos-
pitalization of Linda, daughter of
Rev. and Mrs. Jack Thompson, mis-
sionaries in Trinidad. Enclosed with
the letter was a "token contribu-
tion" of $100.
Learning to Weave
"Macaroni Weaving", a new type of weaving craft, is becoming popular with
the girls at the craft sessions supervised by the recreation council at the
High school, Above, Myrna Robinson, Ruth Fry and Eleanor Goy reqolvo
first' lessons in the art from instructor Joan Irwin. —Staff Photo.
• With which is amalgamated the Gorrie Vidette and Wroxeter News
Subscriptions $2.50 per year, 6c per copy WINGHAM, ONTARIO, WED NESDAY, JULY 15, 1953
iiiAkt
ALONG THE MAIN DRAG
By The Pedestrian
HUMBLY CORRECTED—Some an-
,onymous phoner, with a great passion
for detail, called The Advance-Times
office twice last week to inform us
'that the fire reported in last week's
paper was NOT the first in three
months, as our story said. It was the
first in TWO months, We stand hum-
bly correckd, All we know is what
we heard the firemen say. Next time
we'll phone the chief and ask for it
in writing.
DISCUSS ECONOMIES
AT BOARD MEETING
Ways in which economies could be
'effected in the erection of the new
boiler room and laundry at the hospi-
tal were discussed at the meeting of
the Wingham General Hospital Board
last week. It was decided to recon-
sider the project on the basis of a
one-storey building rather than a two
storey structure, and to inquire as to
,comparative prices on the two types.
1f it is found that a one-storey struc-
ture will be cheaper, plans for the
new building will have to be re-
,drawn.
Suggested modifications by the ar-
chitect with a view to cutting expens-
es included the building of a 50-ton
;bunker for coal storage instead of
'the 100 ton bunker originally planned.
Members of the board considered this
matter at some length, but decided
against the smaller bunker in view of
the fact that it would he too small to
accommodate a full carload of coal.
Savings on the modifications amount-
ed to an estimated $3,000 to $5,000. To-
dal cost of the building and equipment
is in the neighbourhood of $100,000.
:Several Accident
Victims At Hospital
Jack Murray, 13, son of Mr. and
:Mr,s. Peter Murray, of Detroit, who is
vacationing at Kintail, was admitted
to the hospital last week suffering
. from a fractured arm. The boy caught
his arm in a pulley belt, He was ad-
mitted to the hospital and released
. after an overnight stay there.
Teddy Seddon, 10, son of Mr. and
. Mrs. Wilfred Seddon, was treated for
a fracture of the left arm caused by
a fall from. a bicycle. He was released
after treatment,
George Shaw) Catherine Street, was
admitted to the hospital overnight,
after cutting several fingers of his left
hand with a saw.
Fred Tuck, Glenannan, who was do-
. ing carpentry work at the house of
Ronald Rae, suffered the loss of a
finger as 'a result of tin accident with
. a skilsaw.
TWO ESCAPE INJURY
AS CAR TURNS OVER
The driver and passenger escaped
injury at 7.40 a.m.) Tuseday, when a
1953 'Meteor, owned and driven by
Eddie Mehier, Wingham, apparently
turned too sharply at the intersection
of No. 4 highway and the 9th conces-
sion of Turnbcrry Township, and
turned on its right side, landing on
its top in the east ditch of the inter-
section. Riding with Mohler at the
time of the accident was Al Cherney,
Wingham, a musician with the CKNX
Barn Dance, Mr. Mehler is a musician
with Mel Lavigne's Blue Water Boys.
The Mehier car was travelling west
on the ninth' concession at the time
of the accident. Damage to the car
consisted of dents to the top and a
broken window. Constable Salter, of
the Ontario Provincial Police investi-
gated.
After the caf had been righted by
a wrecker, it was able to proceed
under its own power.
Pair Rescued
By Local Men
On Georgian Bay
A near drowning on Georgian Bay
,was averted on Sunday by the action
of a party of Wingham fishermen, who
a party of Wingham fishermen, who
were visiting in the vicinity.
The Wingham men were trolling
along the shore of Georgian Bay some
thirty miles north of Midland, when
Mel Lavigne, one of the party, noticed
a couple of figures in the water, farth-
er out in the lake. At iirst he thought
they might be swimming, but when the
motor of his own boat cut out, he was
able to hear calls for help from the
two men in the water.
Charlie Hodgins and Lloyd Smith
were immediately put ashore to make
room in the boat, and the rest of the
party headed out towards the stranded
pair, When reached they were still
holding on to their capsized punt, but
the older of the two admitted later
that he would have been unable to
hold on much longer. Mel and the
boys took them aboard and delivered
them safely to the larger boat from
which they had started out. The pair
reported that they had been in the
water 1% hours before they were
rescued.
Mixed Doubles
Tournament Success
Thirty-four rinks, with seventeen of
them outside entries, participated in
the mixed doubles tournament held at
the Wingham Bowling club Monday
night., All the greens but two were fill-
ed, and local bowlers were pleased
with a very successful tournament.
Resulits of the tournament were as
follows: 1st., Wingham, Bowman, skip;
2nd., Goderich, MacLean, skip; 3rd.,
Walkerton, F. Eidt, skip; 4th, Wing-
ham, Haselgrove, skip; 5th, Wingham,
Hobclen, skip; 6th, Wingham, Wil-
Llama, skip.
The special prize was won by a
Teeswater rink skipped by Donahue:
WINGIIAM PROMISE
BY PM DISCUSSED
AT CABINET MEET
Following a Cabinet meeting last
week Right Honourable James G. Gar-
diner,. Minister of Agriculture, an-
nounced. that it is the intention of the
Government to introduce amendments
to the law governing the payment of
compensation to owners of livestock
slaughtered for the purpose. of disease
control. Consideration of this question
by the Cabinet followed the commit-
ment:. given by the Prime Minister on
June 24th, when he was speaking at
Winghs,m.
The existing law provides maximum
compensation which may be paid for
individual animals. In the case of hogs
the limit values are $30.00 for grades
and $50.00 for purebreds.
In the recent outbreak of Hog Chol-
era it has been found necessary to de-
stroy some 2,80.0 hogs for the control
of this disease.
For light-weight hogs the full com-
mercial value has been paid, but for
heavier hogs,. which had a higher
value than the limits provided in the
law, owners have received less than
the market value.
It is the intention to amend the
law so that the full market value of
each hog at time of slaughter can be
paid to the owner. Records of all an-
imals slaughtered in the present out-
break have been kept in such a way
that where full value has not been
paid this can be done after the law
has been. amended.
Commenting on the Hog Cholera
situation generally the Minister ob-
served that there had been no new
cases in the present outbreak since
June 19th.
At Golf Club
On Thursday afternoon, July 9th,
about 40 ladies gathered at the Wing-
ham Golf Club for an afternoon of
golf and a social time. The whiners
of the golf tournament were Mrs, H,
Campbell and Mrs, Frank Madill,
It was decided that Ladies Day
would be held each Thursday, All
Members and associate members are
urged to attend. Anyone wishing a
ride should phone No. 448, 799 or 722J,
Plans were made for a supper to be
held at the Club House on Thursday,
July 10, admission 00c. Following sup-
per there will be a mixed two ball
foursome.
DR. R. C ,REDMOND,
VETERAN PHYSICIAN
DIED ON SATURDAY
Dr. Robert C. Redmond, who prac-
ticed as a physician in Wingham for
nearly fifty years, died in Wingham
General Hospital, on Sunday, after
an illness of several weeks. He was in
his 84th year,
Born in 1870, near Lansdowne, Ont-
ario, Dr. Redmond Spout his boyhood
there on the farm his• grandparents
had settled on early in the 19th cen-
tury, after emigrating from Ireland.
After attending the local public school
and the High School at Athens, he
taught in a country school during 1888-
89, and in 1890 he entered Queen's
University where he received first his
arts degree, and later his medical de-
gree in 1898.
After practicing for three years in
Bishops Mills, a village south of Ot-
tawa, he went to Englapd to take post
graduate work. There, he received the
degrees M.R.C.S. and L.R.C.P, becom-
ing a member in the Royal College of
Surgeons and Licentiate of the Royal
College of Physicians.
On his return to Canada, he married
Mary Elizabeth Connell, of Bishops
Mills in 1903, and deciding to locate in
the country, he bought a practice from
Dr, T. Chisholm, of Wingham, where
he settled in January, 1905.
He continued in active practice for
more than forty years, gradually retir-
ing from full-time work to spend part
of each winter in Florida, In 1950 he
gave up practice completely and con-
tinued to spend six months of each
year in Florida and the remainder of
the year in Wingham, During nearly
fifty years of service, he delivered
more than 3000 babies.
During his long years in Wingham,
he took an active part in many com-
munity affairs. He assisted in organ-
izing and promoting a General Hospi-
tal for the town and surrounding
country. He was appointed District
surgeon for the Canadian National
Railway and was coroner for the
County of Huron.
He was a member of the Masonic
Order and in 1940-41 he was District
Deputy Grand Master for North Hur-
on. He was a member of the Lious
Club and a very active member of the
United Church.
During his winters in Florida since
1940, he was first, president of the
Canadian Society and last winter
1952-53 he was elected president of the
President's Union, a group composed
of the presidents of some twenty-two
state societies. He was the second Can-
adian ever to be honoured by election
to this post.
Surviving are his wife and two
daughters, Muriel and Mildred, both
of Toronto.
Funeral services were held Monday
evening in the United Church, with
Rev. D. J. MacRae officiating. Mem-
bers of the Masonic Order attended
the service in a body. Burial was in
Bishops Mills on Wednesday.
Pallbearers were Frank Howson, E.
S. Copeland, Norman Keating, Wilbur.
Tiffin, Alan Williams and Reynolds,
Marsales. Honorary pallbearers were:
doctors from the district, including
two veteran members of the protest.
sion, Dr. Gillies, of Teeswater, and; Dr.
W. A. Oakes, of Clinton.
NOTICE
The greenhouse will be closed on
Wednesday Afternoon for the re-
mainder of July and through the
month of August unless; toe special
occasions.
Lewis Flowers,.. F15b
VENETIAN BLINDS
TO BLOCK VIEW
OF PROUD ,FATHERS
Proud fathers who call in at the
hospital at odd hours to admire
their newest offspring may have
difficulty in future. A recommenda-
tion has come from the Department
of Health in Toronto that venetian
blinds be hereafter placed in front
of the nursery windows, in order
that infants there may have a bit of
privacy.
In accordance with the depart-
ment ruling, blinds will be placed
on the windows. These will be rais-
ed during visiting hours, and closed
during the rest of the day, except
by special appointment.
LOCAL STOCK CAR
WINS AT PORT ELGIN
Stock car enthusiasts Stan Hiseler,
Ron Murray and Raymond Merkley
had a winner at the Bluewater Race
Track on Thursday, when Stan Hiseler
drove their stock car '"30-J" to win
the "Australian Pursuit" in the fourth
event of the stock car races at Port
Elgin. 4/ This is the first time the local
boy have won a race at Port Elgin,
having been dogged by accidents
since they started racing there some
two months ago,
The "Australian Pursuit" is a race
in which the ears line up in single
file and try to pass each other around
the track, each car being eliminated
as it is passed,
In. the first race of the evening the
"30-.I" came from scratch position to
take third place in the first heat. In
the feature race the local car took the
lead in the 9th lap, holding it until
the 14th. lap, when it blew a tire and
bent a tie rod, which put it out of the
race.
COMMUNITY SALL,„ ,
PROSPECTS NOD
The possibility that Wingham may
have community sales at the town
barn in the near future was heighten-
ed last week when it was announced
at the team ennucil that Jack Alexan-
der, proprietor of the Donald Rae &
Son hardware store, had applied for
the use of the town barn.
Mr. AVoconder's plans have not yet
reached the definite stage, but he is
hoping to have the first sale on Sat-
urday, August 1st_
According to, Mr. Alexander every
type of article will be sold at the sale
with the exception of animals. It is
hoped. that the citizens of Wingham
will. co-operate with this community
effort by bringing in articles which
they wish to dispose of to the town
barn. Articles will be received up to
sale time on the day of the sale.
It is, expected that a charge of 10%
will be made for the disposal of var-
ious articles. Plans for the sales are
expected to be finalized next week, at
which time an announcement will be
made.
NOTICE
The office of Dr. G. H. Ross will be
closed from July 20th to August 3rd,
inclusive F15b
Deparment of Health officials in.
Toronto have suggested that the time
is approaching when it will be neces-
sary to "control the admission of
patients" if a new wing for the ho&-
pital is not soon built. At the present
time the hospital is handling in the
neighborhood of 70 to 80 patients
daily, with a rated capacity of 48. It
admissions were "controlled"—which
means turning patients away—to the
48 bed capacity the superintendent,
as well as members of the board
feel that a great deal of suffering
would result. No other alternative
can be foreseen, however, unless work
on the new wing is started in the
near future.
The present stumbling block to the
new wing is the matter of $200,000
needed locally to supplement grants
from the Ontario and Dominion
Government amounting to approxi-
mately $250,000. Total cost of the
new wing is estimated in the neigh-
bourhood of $450,000.
The present plan is to attempt to
collect money from the municipalities
using the hospital, in proportion to
their use of the institution over a
period of the past five years, On
this basis the town of Wingham has
already signified its intention of be-
ing responsible for its proportion of
the whole, amounting to 25% or
$50,000. Morris Township has also
agreed to raise its share of the
money,
The text of the letter from the De-
partment of Health follows:
Parliament Buildings,
Toronto 2, Ontario,
June 8th, 1953.
Mrs, E E. Morrey, Reg. N,,
Superintendent,
Wingham General Hospital,
Wingirani, Ontario.
Dear Mrs. Morrey:
We are most anxious not to add
further to your troubles, but on the
contrary would like if we can lessen
the inordinately great responsibility
which you have been carrying for a
long time.
Since Miss Hewson called to see
you: en May 22nd, 1953, we have been
talli-rna over matters here, and we do
feel that it is not right for you to
have to make shift with your very
limited facilities to care for between
two and three times the number of
patients for which the hospital is
rated. Besides it is a question whe-
ther,; taking the most favourable view
of what a hospital can do under
stress, even a minimum standard of
care can be given to patients.
The crowding of patients renders
impossible their assignment to servic-
es and we are particularly concerned
about the use of the Obstetrical De-
partment for patients in the medical
and surgical category. I am sure you
will understand that we are not being
critical of you, but we can not help
but be critical of the unrestricted
overcrowding.
It is evident that with the presist-
ing difficulties you have had to cope
with, you have not had a reasonable
opportunity to introduce the modifi-
cations discussed between you and
Miss Hewson, and which I am sure
you agree in principle.
In the situation in which the hos-
pital finds itself, a time must come
when a decision has to be taken in
reference to controlling admission
of patients, While no hospital wish-
es to turn a patient away, it may be
that to decline to admit would be
doing not only that patient, but those
already in hospital, a much greater
service than would result from ad-
ding to a condition of overcrowding.
It may be that this time is already
here, and if so, the Board will want
Seriously to consider what measures
can be taken to remedy the situation
which must give you cause for the
greatest concern.
Yours very truly,
M. E. J. Stalker, MB.,
Chief Medical Inspector of Hospitals
ENGAGEMENT
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Elgie, of St.
Marys, wish to announce the engage-
ment of their daughter Verna Jean,
to William Donald Porter, son of Mr..
and Mrs, Roy Porter. The marriage
to take place in the latter part of
July, in London, FI513
TOO Much Overcrowding
Dept. of Health Officials
Concerned about Hospital
Concern of Department of Health officials over conditions in Wing-
ham General Hospital were expressed in a letter to Mrs. Iris Morrey, super-
intendent, following a visit to the hospital by Miss Hewson, inspector for
the Department, in May.
Miss Hewson's report dealt primarily with standards of service in the
hospital, and was critical of the congested conditions there, particularly in
the obstetrical department. The report has not been released 'for publication,
but it is understood that Miss Hewson's criticism was quite severe.
* * *
ALL POWERFUL' P.A.—Members
of the staff of CKNX, who are auth-
-orities on .the subject, were lost in
wonder last week at the amount of
-volume put forth by the gentleman in
the tent behind the foundry, Not even
.a transmitting tower, and he reached
all the way to the golf course. Some
loose talk about a new secret weapon
.has been denied.
* *
• RECRUITING WAGON—The R.C.A.
F's. new mobile recruiting unit made
its first appearance in town last week,
and parked on the main street outside
the town hall. The van was complete
with literature and an officer in at-
tendance, and seemed to draw a fair
amount of attention, which, of course,
it was suppoSed to do. The R.C.A.F.
had better lay in a stock of pennies for
their next visit,, in case the town has
parking meters by then.
* *
CHICKS ON THE DRAG—Latest
o addition to the Main Drag has been a
collection of chickens in one of the
feed stores at the south end. Osten-
sibly there for demonstration purposes
to show what feed can do, the birds
have become notable for other reasons.
Nearby residents claim they are being
awakened in the morning by early
roosters. Perhaps the new dog bylaw
should be amended to include other
types of "pets."
0 - 0 - 0
40 SORRY, WRONG NUMBER—Jack
:Mason, at the bookstore, was some-
what startled this week when, answer-
ing the phone, he was asked by the
voice-on the other end to please come
.out and pick up a dead calf.
NOTICE
Templeman's Drycleaners will be
closed August 3 to 8 inclusive.
F22:29b Ladies' Afternoon