Hospital resources were stretched to the limit

Press, 5 March 1982, Page 16

Hospital resources were stretched to the limit

Patients slept on the floor and in the loft of Canterbury’s first hospital. From those very humble beginnings emerged Christchurch Hospital, an impressive sight and an asset of which the city can be proud. The hospital’s early records are held in the Canterbury Museum archives and these, together with information found among the Provincial Council papers, trace the history of the hospital back to 1862.

Before this date, there was only one hospital in the province and that was at Lyttelton. By the beginning of the 1860 s it had become too small to cope with the increasing population. In 1861, Dr Donald, the Provincial Surgeon, wrote to the Government: “There are at present 21 persons in the house and from the paucity of accommodation several sleep on the floor and in the loft.”

Mental patients as well as those with physical ailments were treated there and resources were stretched to the limit.

In October, 1859, the residents of Christchurch sent a petition to their superintendent urging the erection of a hospital: “Looking to the constant arrival of emigrant ships and the rapid increase of the population from all quarters, it is obvious that the probability of the occurrence of serious accidents as well as dangerous and lingering illness is daily increasing

As a result, in 1861, the Government voted £l5OO towards the erection of a hospital in Christchurch. The hospital, a two-storeyed building on Riccarton Road, was opened in June, 1862. The total cost was £1776. Dr Burrell Parkerson was appointed as surgeon and Dr Silas Stedman as physician at salaries of £3OO a year each. Other staff included two nurses, a master and matron, a dispenser, a married couple to do odd jobs and a cook.

Dr Stedman’s annual report for 1863 recorded that 231 cases were admitted in the hospital’s first year. The largest number of these, 112, were suffering from fever. Dr Stedman noted that the fever was endemic and occurred every autumn in Christchurch with symptoms similar to those of the typhoid fever of Europe. Other illnesses treated in-

ciuaea cancer of the stomach, dyspepsia, abscess of the liver and rheumatism. Of the total number of patients admitted, 27 died, 178 recovered and 26 remained in hospital. In 1864, £BB9 was spent on improvements to the buildings. Two fever wards and a resident doctor’s house were built.

The same year, Dr Parkerson retired and Dr Henry Prins was appointed resident surgeon in charge of both medical and surgical work at the hospital. Christchurch Hospital was fortunate in having some very able doctors among the early medical staff. Dr Parkerson had trained in Norfolk and arrived in Canterbury in 1853. Dr Prins came out as a ship’s doctor arriving on the Cashmere in 1859. He was a very good surgeon and performed some delicate operations during his time at the hospital. In June, 1866, he removed a stone from a six-year-old boy under observation from eight of the most prominent doctors in Christchurch. The same year, he successfully operated to remove a bone splinter that was pressing on the brain of a young patient. The administration of the

hospital came under a board of governors but in July, 1864, control of management was vested in a committee appointed for the purpose by the Provincial Council. Among the rules drawn up for the hospital were the following:

“The nurses shall be able to read and write. They shall have their respective wards cleaned by 9.30 a.m., shall administer all diet and wines ordered by the resident surgeon and treat the sick with kindness and attention.

“All patients and servants connected with the hospital shall conduct themselves with sobriety, cleanliness and honesty both out of and within doors. They shall not use profane language, play at any game of chance nor chew tobacco within doors.”

Perhaps as a reward for good behaviour, nurses were given an allowance of a pint of beer a day. By 1867, the staff numbered 18. These included eight nurses, a house surgeon, a visiting surgeon, a physician and a dispenser. Although patients were expected to make some contribution towards their expenses, a charitable aid fund operated for those who could not afford to do so.

In 1869, an additional wing was built to accommodate a further 20 patients. The hospital could now accommodate .67 patients in six wards. The population of Christchurch at this time was 6647. In 1871, further additions were made —

wards 4 and 5 known as Maunsell and Rolleston wards with 24 beds in each. Few of the case books from this early period still exist but those that do give an interesting insight into the type of diseases dealt with and the treatment used.

Chronic alcoholism appears to have been common in 1886. At that time, alcoholism was treated as a physical disease only. Sufferers were admitted to hospital and given a nourishing diet.

One or two cases of opium smoking were also recorded that year. One patient, who was diagnosed as having gangrene of the lungs, was treated by inhaling eucalyptus oil. Not surprisingly perhaps, he died a few days later.

Potassium bromide was given to those suffering from., epilepsy. Several cases of “hys-> teria,” mainly among young, women, were noted. “Aj couple of good soap and water enemata” was the remedy prescribed.

One unfortunate man was admitted to hospital suffering from injuries received during a drunken row with his wife, who had hit him over the head with a chamber pot.

Although many of the illnesses were similar to those we know today, such as heart disease, cancer, chronic laryngitis and pneumonia, - the treatment differed widely. Leeches were still being used in some cases in the 1880 s.

Many advances have been made in the treatment of diseases and in medical facilities since 1862 but there is no doubt that the dedication of those first doctors and staff of Christchurch Hospital established a tradition which continues to the present day.

By

MARGARET CULLEN,

of Canterbury Museum.