Mining and Medicine: The Case of Waratah Hospital, Tasmania, Part 1, 1872-1954

Abstract

The published case load of the doctors of the Waratah Hospital, Tasmania is described with emphasis firstly on the accidents occurring in the mines, and the subsequent business and community support of the victims over a twenty eight year period. Secondly the incidence and severity of infectious diseases before antibiotics and vaccine prevention is portrayed with lessons for today where infectious diseases have become the optional choice of the anti-vaccination advocates. Thirdly the problems of clinical medicine in an isolated community with an enormous workload, and of staffing the hospital run throughout the paper.