At a time when the health service is under severe pressure, resulting from a toxic combination of chronic underfunding and rampant influenza, it is interesting to find a list of "Infirmary Cases" from the Halifax Courier of 150 years ago. Three admissions to Halifax Infirmary during the previous week are listed:
- GEORGE APPLEYARD who fell from a wall and sustained a severe scalp wound and contused eye;
- BENJAMIN WRIGLEY who fractured his right arm when a heavy weight fell on it at work;
- JOHN WHITEHOUSE who fell in his house and fractured his ankle.
If this was just a small proportion of the people turning up at the Infirmary in 1868, the waiting room would have still been a lot less hectic than it is now. Nevertheless, I think I would prefer to take my chances with the queues and crowds (and antibiotics and anaesthetics) of 2018.
Hmmmm... Sounds like Halifax wasn't the safest place to work!
ReplyDeleteWe are very fortunate.
ReplyDeleteFrolicking away the dinner hour on the wall...
ReplyDelete