Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

13 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

COLWYN BAY COTTAGE HOSPITAL.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

COLWYN BAY COTTAGE HOSPITAL. NEW OPERATING THEATRE PROVIDED. OPENING CEREMONY BY THE COUNTESS OF DUNDONALD. HISTORY OF A POPULAR INSTITUTION. Thanks to the industry—tireless industry-and generosity of Mr Walter Whitehead, J.P., the distinguished chairman of the Board of Gover- nors, the Colwyn Bay Cottage Hospitéi7 is now equipped with an up-to-date operating theatre, where surgical operations of the greatest impor- tance may be performed wii.li the same hope ol success as if they were treated at the leading London or Manchester hospitals. Hitherto opera- tions have been carried out under conditions any- thing but satisfactory, and no better tribute could be paid to the skill of the medical and nursing staff than the fact that so many patients have survived treatment. DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW THEATRE. The new theatre has been designed and built under the direct supervision of Messrs J. M. Porter and Elcock, Colwyn Bay, who gave the whole of their invaluable services gratuitously, Messrs Wood and Co., Colwyn Bay, being the general contractors. The room i-s about 20ft. long by 20ft. wide and 12ft. high. Half the roof and practically the whole of one side is glazed by Messrs Pdkington's (St. Helens) special pro- cess, which ensures abundant light on the operat- ing table, the special steel work in the roof lights being fitted by Messrs Wragge, of Man- chester. All the walls are to a great extent cov- ered with tiling spec-ally made for this work by Mr J. C. Edwards, Ruabon. The corners are not constructed in the usual way with separate small tnes, but arranged so as to give as few joints as possible with the object of affording no foot- hold for dust. With the same intention all cor- ners of the room both on the floor and in the ceiling are rounded and coved. Particular atten- tion has o'f course been paid to the ventilating system, and by a neat arrangement of canvas- covered screens (designed by the architect) all the air will pass into the room well filtered, and at the same time regulated in point of tempera- ture. A particular feature of the fittings are the large basins which are arranged with special re- volving knobs so that the taps may be turned by the surgeon's elbow rather than bring his .ands to bear on a handle, and in a simple man- ner he may regulate the heat of tho water he draws from cold to hot. An ingenious arrange- ment is also provided for the flow of the water out of the basins into a drain pipe which can not at any time emit foul air. The basins are in fact on precisely the same lines as those recently fitted in the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, and are regarded as the most perfect in the market. They were specially designed by Messrs Shanks, of Glasgow. Yet another new feature of the fittings is the hot water pipes which convey heat to the radiators along tho walla outside the room, thus obviating the tearing up of the floor in the event. of repairs being necessary. The radiators arc placed on sills, keeping them utI the floor, washings, etc., and the room may be tea tod to 93 decrees so that operations cm the braiin may be carried out with every oliance of success. The windows all open out to the full extent, ensuring abundant air in ease of the ooliause of a patient under anaesthetics. The floor is of marble terrazzo specially laid. In- strument cases are fixed into the wall, glaas taking a prominent piaoe in their construction. A sterilising room adjoins the "theatre." and the appliances there are on the same modern plan as everything eise throughout the new >»ng THE OPENING CEREMONY. Practically all the leading fajxnhea in the town and neighbourhood were represented at Che opening ceremony, performed yccst-erday afternoon by the Countess of IXmdonald, by whose geniero.-ity the Board otf Management were able to secure a site for the original building. Her ladyip was accompanied by La<iy Jean Cfchrane. 1 in the ab.ienoe, through illness, of Mr James fcnpihiett, Mr ChaB. Reynolds. J.P., presided yver the proceedings, and he was supported by )1r Waiter VVhitenead, and all the members of I the Board (A Management, and all medioal can of the district. The gathering was in Very respect representative and encaurag'mg. A feelingly opening prayer having been ^tiered by tne Yicax ol Old Colwyn (Rev. John jrilhths), ine Chairman read letters of apology from iir J. Herbert Roberts, M.P., the Hon. Mr md. Mrs Laurence Brodrick, Lady Augusta jdoetyn, the Hon. Mrs, Henry Moetyn, and Mr ?red. H. Smith, Queen's Lodge. frcceeding, the Chairman explained that in ihe unfortunate illneas of Mr J. Amphlett, he JegUrded it as a great honour to preside that Afternoon. The hospital had been in exist- ence for thirteen years, and if thing's went on a.t their present rate they would have to carry out still further extensions &oon. The com- mittee had found for a long time that the Cramped character of the operating room hitherto used greatly handicapped, the work of the surgeons, and he thought it was an ex- cellent idea to provide modern, suitable facili- ties for amah important duties (hear, hear). A VETERAN PRACTITIONER S APPEAL. Dr. Price Morris, Old Colwyn, as the senior taedieal man in the district and one of the founders of the hospital, related some of his experiences as a surgeon during1 the thirty-four years he had been in practice in the neighbour- hood, and emphasised. in the course of a few i-oroeful sentences the advantages accruing from working under modern conditions. In- cidentally, he referred, midst cheers, to cases wher-) the Gwrveh Castle liad by their gener- osity ajid thoughtfulnese belped his endeavours to relieve the sufferings otf patients by their bountiful gifts of food and delicacies essential to their recovery. He dwelt upon the enor- mous advantage of the hospital in a district iwhere quarries were go near at hand, and Ie. marked upon the very genuine manner in which the qu'arrymen. of Llystaon and Llanddulas ap- preciated the work of the institution. With regard to the function we are occupied with y. said the 3]>ea,kor, I brieve that the gentleman who iias taken the ciiaef part, the liuative in carrying out this project is the dis- tinguished chairman of the Committee of Man- agement, Mr Walter Wmtehead (loud cheers). I believe, that Mr Whitehead had not only subscribed very liberally to the fund, but he has indiuoed others to subscribe, and helped forward the work in every way (hear, hear). What man could know better than he the value of this new theatre? For many years he was one of the leading aurgteons in this country. He was for many years chief sur- geon to the Manchester Infirmary, and other Keil-known institutions, and his name is known all over the globe among surgeons (cheers). In fact, many operations are known by his name, and in discharging my duties in this district I have on several occasions had to ask for his assistance and valuabde advice, and I am very thankful to him for his help at all times (cheers). Dr. Price Morris concluded with a warm appeal to the inhabitants of the town and distrust for help towards the hoepital fund. I know he remarked how people in this neighbourhood axe continually being bombarded for subscriptions for various things, "but 1 think 1 can appeal to you all on the basis of that common Christianity which wo all believe in, and independent of politics, creed or anything eLe. You have here a common ground upon Which you oa>n work and help to carry out those essentially humanitarian teachings inoui cated by the Founder of Christianity (a L- plau^e). A FORTUNATE DELAY. Dr. Lcmax Wood, one of the joint hon. #DL r-etaries to the committee;, who followed, ex- plained that when the hospital was opened the funds collected to defray the expenses f its erection did not permit the building a.nd equipping of an operation theatre, and. oonse- quently operations had to be performed in a siaall room devoted to this purpose. Atr that time, however, the science of surgery wias more or less in a transitional state, for the reseaxohes on fermentation by the groat biologist pasteiur in France, on bacteriology by Robert Kooh in Germany, and their application to surgery by Lord Lister in England, had not been fully formulated into the rules which now govern the scientific hygiene of the treatment of wounds. The apparent loss has therefore proved a de- cided gain to the inhabitants of this district, for he ventured to SaY that if the operating theatre had been built twelve or thirteen years ago it would not have been designed or equipped in the manner in which they would shortly see it; in fact, it would now be con- sidered somewhat antiquated. Thanks to the initiative of Mr Whitehead, chairman of the Board, the eminent surgeon who had the wel- fare of the hospital very much at heart, the Board of Management decided to build an I operatloa theatre in memory of Mr James 1 Wood, one of the founders of the Cottage Hos- pital and co-seoretary with him (the speaker) to the first building committee, for it was felt IbaA the time had come when any patient nged- 2 r- v ing an operation should be placed in a position equal to that obtainable in all bhe large cen- tres with their well-equipped operation theatres. Since the microsoope and bacteriology had come to the aid of surgeons the la&ter had conoeived the idea, that all microbes or germs should be prevented from gaining acoeos to wounds. In order to carry out this scientifio treatment it had been necessary to build the theatres with impervious ceilings, walls and floors, and to provide means to sterilise instru- ments, dressings, etc., so that everything brought into contact with the patient should be free from, and also be absolutely incapable of harbouring, any germa which could injuro the delicate tissues, of the body (hoax, hear). Their aim, therefore, was to prevent the en- trance of the germs into the body, to maintain what was called aa "aseptic" state of the operation area, rather than to kill by means of antiseptics, the germs introduced iuto the depths of the wound, for these chemical sub- stances were apt also to damage the parts of the human frame with which they ccune into con- tact. As one of the members of the Board, it gave him great pleasure to welcome the Countesa of Dundomaild, who had graciously consented to open this theatre—(appla.use),— for, as they all knew, she ever took a deep in- terest in the Cottage flospitai-(bear, hear)- and in the early days of its existence, when its hnanoee were not on a very sure basis, came to their aid i disposing of the freehold of that site to the trustees (applause) PROGRESS OF THE MOVEMENT. Mr David Gamble, J.P, (hon. treasurer to the Board of Management), gave an interesting sketch jf the progress of the hospital movement sirce its inception. He explained that in 1897, very largely due to the exertion and influence of the late Mr James Wood, it was decided to com memorate the Diamond Jubilee of the late Queen Victoria by the erection of a cottage hospital for the treatment of the poorer inhabitants in the district comprising Colwyn Bay, Oid Colwyn, Llanehan, Llvsfacn, and Llanddulas. The work was commenced in August, 1898, and the hospital opened in February, 1900, the cost being about £ 1600. In 1902 the erection of a laundry and mortuary was found necessary, and that cost about £325. So long ago as 1903 the Board of Management called attention to the need of a new operating theatre and also of isolation wards, so that it would bo understood that the object for which they ffere there that day was no new one, and could not therefore be said to have been unduly hurried (hear, hear). At that time it was decided that the isolation hospital wards were the more pressing need, and they. .Tm3 NEW OPERATING THEATRE AT THE COLWYN BAY, COTTAGE HOSPITAL')('Pl0n0€r" phota were erected at a cost of £707. In 1906, owing to the inadequate accommodation for the nursing staff, it was found absolutely necessary to build a dining-room and two bedrooms, which work was carried out at an expense of £ 188; and the erection of an operating room again postponed. In 1908 a sum of JE161 was collected from the general public and the "old boys" of Dinglewood School. As a memorial to the late Mr James Wood this sum was intended to be devoted to the endowment fund, but after due consideration the Board of Management decided that there oould bo no better form of a memorial to Mr Wood than the erection of an operating room for the hospital in which he had always taken so great an interest (hear, hear). The consent of the sub- scribers to that course was obtained, and the erec- tion of an operating room decided on. The public were asked for contributions towards the fund, and thanks to the great interest and splen- did efforts of their chairman (Mr Whitehead) the total amount raised was now £690, though they were still in need of money for the cost of the room, etc., would be at least £850. That might seem a large sum, but it must bo borne in mind that they now had an operating room in every way up to date and complete (hear, hear), ana which would be suitable for its purpose even though the hospital was five or six times its pre- sent size (applause). Up to the end of last year 676 patients had been treated at the hospital-an average of 67 per annum (hear, hoar). The aver- age cost, E330 a year, would be somewhat in- creased in view of the new extension, and having regard for that facl he made a special appeal to supporters of the institution to help in increasing the income so as to further enable the committee to carry on the work (hear, hear). A very help- ful way would be for every subscriber to induco at least one friend who did not already subscribe to do so. The committee did not ask for large subscriptions, believing that the whole commu- nity should take a share of a burden which should be commonly borne (applause). Mr F. Nunn, who succeeded the late Mr James Wood as co-honorary secretary with Dr. Lomax Wood, also spoke and referred in sorrowful terms to the loss the hospital had sustained by the death of the late Dr. Frazer, Mr John Roberts (Fern Bank), Mr Harold Smith, Mr John Porter, and Mr James Wood, and in grateful terms to the very excellent work accomplished by Mr Walter Whitehead in aid of the institution. THANKS TO THE ARCHITECTS. Mr David Lewis, Eithinog, spoke of the gene- rous action of the honorary architects (Messrs J. M. Porter and Elcock) in providing for the new theatre. They had not only prepared plans and .specifications, but constantly supervised the work from day to day as it went on (cheera). The Board of Management felt deeply grateful to them, and he felt sure that the public represented there that a:fternoon were equally pleased of that opportunity of expressing their thanks to the hon. architects for their liberality in that matter (cheers). Mr F. Stancliffe, who seconded, remarked that but for the help of the hon. architects it was quite possible that they would yet be without their new handsome operating theatre. The motion was carried with cheers. Mr C. E. Eloock, in acknowledging the motion, pointed out that the expenditure of 1:850 included in addition to the new theatre the fitting of a new ward which had been arranged in the room originally occupied for operations, besides the re- arrangement and improvement of the whole heat- ing system of the hospital, which hitherto de- pended upon the fluctuating kitchen range. COUNTESS OF DUNDONALD'S CON- GRATULATIONS. In the course of a few appropriate sentences the Countess of Dundonald then threw open the door of the new theatre, her ladyship being pre- sented by Mr Walter Whitehead with a handsome gold key by way of a memorial of the event. Within the operating room her ladyship pre- sented to each member of the medical, dental, and nursing staff a key so that ingress might be obtained to the theatre at all times by those spe- cially authorised. The Countess of Dundonaid tihen said it ovave oor very gicit pleasure to perform the opening ceremony that afternoon, partly be- cause she realised how much the new theatre was wanted azid partly because she was ex- ceedingly interested in tho institution (ehocxs). That was part of a movement goring an throughout the country of modern- ising methods of treating the injured. The success of the hospitaj movement she attri- buted largely to the great in taken im hospitals by his late Majesty King Ed-ward VII.—She was glad to see that piodero equip- ments were beiaig supplied at that hoap^ital. So far ae she oould see, everything was pro- vided in that roorm that could possibly be de- sired or required by the demAu/fe oî science, o ■and she thought it reflected the greatest credit upon aJJ those who had helped so ea/tisfiac- totrily to bring that scheme to a. oomdusijotn (heiar, ihiear). She cofogratuilated them upon what had been dome, and hoped the hospital would continue to eonier upon the community those benefits which had been already so rmreh appreciated by those in need. She oordia&ly thanked aiil preseant for the most kind recep- tion given to her that afternoon (applause). On the motion of Mr Dd. Gamble, second- ed by the Rev. T. M. Jones, a. hearty vote of thanks was aooardied her ladyship for her kiitndly offices. A hearty vote of thanks was also passed to Mir Walter Whitehead, on the motion of the Chairman, for the gold bey ptreeerted by him to the Count-ess of ThmdoalaJd. Mr Chas. Reynolds, for presiding, was also wainnly thaniked, 00 the motion of Mr F. Sut- ClAe-. PROF. STIRLING'S LECTURE. In the evening, Professor Stirling, of the Victoria University, Manchester, one of the most pfftHnkijent physLciaais of the day, dieiit- vered an illustrated lecture at the Pier Pavilion, entitled, "The rointajice and beanrty of plant life," a subject, which had been specially chosen, because, to use the distin- guished lecturer's own words, "Colwyn Btay and its smrrouindings offer stich an entrancing and inimite variety of plant life." Amongst otheir subjects dealt with were the rose ajid sub-roea, lilies as types ofbeauty and purity in reCigdom and art, "Fiece Ancilia Domimj" of Roesetti, literary end mythical (aspects of the subject, gardens ancient and modern, colour grouping contrasts and herbaceous, flowers and beautaes of stream and pond, Arctic arnd Ailpine floras, shoots 'amd roots, movements of plamts, leaves as sun-traps, a garden on a leaf, monarchs oif the forest, "Flower in the cranni-ed wall," etc. The lecture was delightfully illustrated by means of a large mum/ber of specially prepared slides, amomgst which was one showing the new operating theatre, which was produced by permission of the proprietors off the "Pio- ncetr," from a photograph takem exclusively for this journal, amd a block of which ap- peajrs in this issue. Professor Stirling gave his services gratui- tously for the benefit of the HospitaJ Fund, a.nd it was very disappointing to find that pu/blic patronage of the lecture was so much out cif the keeping with his generous action. Mr Fred H. Smith presided.

ST ASAPH (DENBIGH) RURAL DISTRICT…

WINTER CHEST TROUBLES

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COLWYN BAY CHORAL SOCIETY.

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