By SUB-INSPECTOR J. H. JOHNSON

A Red Cross Outpost

Outpost Hospital Service of Red Cross Rapidly Growing in B. C.—Community
Spirit Made Hospital Possible at McBride—First Patient Forced Hospital to Open

THE BRITISH COLUMBIA Division of
the Canadian Red Cross Society is to be con-
gratulated on the work they are doing in
providing hospitalization for the sick in re-
moter parts of the Province. With true
pioneering spirit the Province’s “last fron-
tier” has been conquered with gallant men
and women wearing the world-renowned
insignia of the Red Cross. To many of us,

30 Below—District Nurse
commencing her rounds.

the Red Cross is an organization giving com-
fort and assistance in fire, flood and famine.
But here and there in the outback, goes
steadily on the quiet and methodical work of
combating disease and injury, bringing to

Young Donald MacKinlay, first patient at
McBride Outpost Hopsital.

lonely settlers a feeling of security and con-
fidence, and earning the praise of all who
come in contact with this great humanitarian
work.

The Outpost Hospital Service of the Red

SUMMER EDITION

Still Exists in British Columbia.

Cross is rapidly growing; its foundation
rests on the preservation of adult and infant
life in the Province. It’s builders are the

Outpost Hospital at McBride, B.C.

Outpost Nurses who have gone into the far
isolated regions to bring hospital and nursing
service to pioneer settlers.

McBrRIDE’s NEw HospItrAL

An example of this service is the Red
Cross Outpost Hospital at McBride, B. C.

Two Weeks Ahead of Schedule—An Emergency Operation—Pioneering Spirit

Jasper, 107 miles to the east, with train
service three days a week.

With true community spirit the people
there placed themselves under the direction
of the Red Cross Society. With the gener-
ous assistance of Mr. H. G. Perry, M.L.A.,
a house, later to become the hospital, was
purchased. It was thoroughly renovated, and
on December 19th, 1937, Miss Grace J.
Wright arrived with her assistant, Miss Inez
Browne, to take over the matronship of the
little hospital.

They commenced the business of putting
the house in order, and then waited for their
first case.

The hospital was to have been opened
about the middle of January, 1938—but
December 31st, 1937, marked the advent of
the first patient. On this date young Donald
(“Taughy”) MacKinlay, son of Constable
Bob MacKinlay of the B. C. Police, was
brought to the hospital suffering from an
acute appendicitis, subsequently diagnosed
as a ruptured appendix. Preparations were
immediately made, instruments unpacked,
and a successful operation was performed
by Dr. MacDonald. The young patient

In Northern British Columbia the District Nurse often makes
her rounds by dog team.

There was need for a hospital at McBride.
The nearest hospital west of that point was
at Prince George, 147 miles away, or at

made an excellent recovery and was up and
about in two weeks.
The people of McBride could now point

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