96 It Happened in Iona

sufficient cases to alert us. One had a ruptured appendix and a close call, another a collapsed lung which sounded so serious then. Still another walked on a rusty nail and limped for life. A few also caught TB and had to go to the provincial sanatorium. These cases were more than enough to keep us on our guard. The prolonged illness and eventual death in 1941 of Mrs. James (Delila) Daly was a community jolt of great proportions and brought the grim image of cancer close to home. Likewise the death two years later of Shirley McGuigan at the tender age of seven was a shock since it cut right into our school-age group. Both died at home following all-night vigils by family and neighbors.

A sure reminder of sickness over most of these years was the presence of a medical doctor at Eldon and his intermittent visits to the homes of our district. Dr. Johnston served the wider area for a number of years in the 30s and his name was well known. His departure was greatly felt with the remarks that it was a bad time to get sick now with no doctor in Eldon! Dr. Hogg was there briefly in the early 40s but it was not until the arrival of Dr. Harold Stewart shortly after the war that good medical coverage returned to the area. He was succeeded in 1953 by Dr. Stewart MacDonald who faithfully served the surrounding com- munities until the end of the 50s. For a short time in the early 40s Iona residents had the services of a young Dr. McKenna who resided at Vernon. Then there was always the much beloved Dr. . Brehaut of Murray River who was also called in during the absence of regular physicians. The doctor was summoned only when sickness was of a serious nature and news that he was around would inevitably get out either by word of mouth or by the spotting of his car. In the early 40s at least, a house call was three dollars. When that was raised to five there was great talk about how rich the medical men were becoming and how difficult this new pricing would be on the country folk. Certainly the cost of a house call was a major factor in determining when or how often to call a doctor. In fairness to the medical profession, however, it is safe to say that they did not always get paid for their services and came when called justthe same. Hospitaliza- tion of the sick was rare except for extreme cases or surgical necessity. This was due mainly to the costs involved but also to the culture of the time.

A sign of extreme illness in the community was the coming of the priest to administer the “last rites”. For hundreds of years in the Church and until the reforms of the Second Vatican