By Land and By Air

Section 7 ELDON

In 1953, I graduated from Dalhousie University with an MD., CM degree. CM - Master of Surgery is no longer given, as they get very little surgery in the present six years. I moved to Eldon in 1953 with two children, a girl and a boy. The first day we arrived with our sparse furniture, the Putnams, parents of Dr. Malcolm Putnam, came over and invited us for supper, which was greatly appreciated. They became very good friends as long as they lived. They used to call for my wife on Sundays and take her to church as she did not drive a car at that time.

We used to have a girl working for us when we made enough money, as cash was very slow. I average much more a day now than I used to make in a month.

The first year, especially until the snow arrived, many former patients of Dr. Harold Stewart went to his office in Charlottetown. Many Catholics, especially in the northern area, went to their own Catholic doctors in Charlottetown. That changed a great deal when Ibecame acquainted with Father Gillis from Vernon River, who used to advise his followers - ”Go to the Doctor who will visit your home when needed, especially in the winter.” Not all parishioners followed his advice.

One of my worst cases was one in which the snowplow was unable to get onto a narrow road, and I had to walk the best part of a mile with soft snow up to my middle, carrying the doctor's bag high above the snow, in order to attend a patient who went to the town doctor when the summer came. When I started back to the snowplow, the neighbour who was Visiting the patient’s home, decided to drive me back. When we started to

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