[From Manx Quarterly, #3 November 1907]

RAMSEY COTTAGE HOSPITAL. OPENING CEREMONY.

Ramsey Cottage Hospital.

The Gift of the Henry Bloom Noble Trust.
Foundation Stone laid by the Hon. Arthur Stanley, M.P. (Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasonsof the Isle of Man), June 28th, 1906.
Opened by the Clerk of the Rolls, July 23rd, 1907.

On Tuesday, 23rd July, 1907, in the most brilliant sunshine, and in the presence of a large gathering of people, the opening ceremony in connection with the Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital, which has in the main been provided through the generosity of the Henry Bloom Noble trustees, took place. The Very Rev W. Lefroy, D.D., Dean of Norwich, the chairman of the Henry Bloom Noble Trust, was to have performed the opening ceremony, but he was unavoidably absent, and his place was taken by the Clerk of the Rolls.

The proceedings opened with the singing of the hymn, " While all Thy mercies, O my God," to the accompaniment of Mr News' band. A prayer was then offered by the Rev Dr Davies. An appropriate passage of Scripture, from I. Cor. xiii., was read by the Rev R. Davidson, M.A., and this was followed by the singing of the hymn, " At even, ere the sun was set."

The building, the foundation stone of which was laid by the Hon. Arthur Stanley, M.P., Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons of the Isle of Man, is well situated on an eminence to the north of the town, and is very handsome in appearance, standing back from the road-way a distance of some fifty yards. This space is laid out as a lawn. The following is a brief description of the building, as supplied by Mr T. Cowley:

It seldom happens that adequate funds are available for the erection of a cottage hospital for a limited number of beds to allow of the building being planned and fitted up on lines which are considered necessary for a modern general hospital. Thanks, however, to the forethought and generosity of the trustees of the Henry Bloom Noble estate, Ramsey is an exception, for, on an excellent site, standing high and dry, with pleasing outlooks in every direction, the trustees have caused to be erected and furnished in a thoroughly up-to-date manner, a carefully designed and complete miniature hospital, replete with every modern appliance for the alleviation of suffering and for the comfort of both patients and staff.

The portion of the building allotted to patients is only of one storey, and consists of two wards, each containing four beds and two cots, two single bed wards, a nurse's room, linen store, two bathrooms, and conveniences. A short corridor forms connection with a two-storey building in which are provided a surgery, arranged and fitted as an operating room, a matron's sitting-room, and the kitchen department on the ground floor; and four bedrooms, linen store, bathroom, and conveniences on the first floor. Connected with the kitchen department by a covered way is the laundry, and there is a detached mortuary. The flooring of the wards is of polished teak, etc., except to the matron's sitting-room, the whole of the ground floor is of marble terrazzo. The, baths, lavatories, sinks, and conveniences are in glazed stoneware of the latest hospital designs, a good supply of hot water being laid on throughout. Efficient ventilation is secured by special means, and every portion of the building is well lighted. The architects for the buildings are Messrs W. Henman and Thos. Cooper, F.F.R.I.B.A., of Birmingham; Messrs James Callow and Sons, of Ramsey, are the contractors, and Mr R. Wattleworth acted as clerk of works.

The Clerk of the Rolls expressed his keen regret at the absence of Dean Lefroy and also of Mr Ll. S. Kneale (another trustee), the Lord Bishop, and the Ven. Archdeacon. He congratulated the inhabitants of Ramsey and neighbourhood on the erection of this very complete building, which, so far as he was able to judge, after having heard criticisms, had been carried out to the entire satisfaction of everyone who was at all acquainted with hospital work. The cost of the erecting and furnishing of the hospital by the Noble trustees had been approximately £6,000, and in addition to that, Mr Maitland, as trustee of the Baume estate, had contributed £1,000 to the endowment fund, and with that gift, and various other sums which had been subscribed, they had between £1,400 and £1,500 as the nucleus for the endowment of the building. He hoped that every person connected with the North of the Island would take an interest in so valuable an institution. It might be asked: What did they want with a hospital in a place like this? Ramsey itself was an hospital in the widest sense of the word-with its pure air, its delightful climate, its lovely surroundings, he might say it was the finest sanatorium of its kind in the British Isles. But even in Ramsey there were occasionally cases where hospital treatment was required, and where, chiefly through lack of means, people were unable to provide such proper treatment and care for themselves. These were the persons who primarily had a claim on the institution. He should be the last man in the world to let his judgment overcome his heart, and he thought it better, for fear of making a mistake, to allow persons in whom their judgment would say had no claim on them. But he warned those connected with the management that it was was largely complained of that hospitals were very much abused by people all over the kingdom. People in the North, however, were not so accustomed to hospital treatment that they were likely to run to it; on the contrary, he feared the difficulty would be to induce poor people to enter its doors when they ought to do so, and he hoped the medical fraternity would impress upon the public the advantages to be derived from proper care and treatment in such an institution. He hoped very strongly that a ladies' committee would be formed. A working committee was all very well to attend to business details, but it was to woman they must look to see that the care of the poor, the sick, and the needy was really being discharged. Knowing what he did of the ladies of Ramsey and the neighbourhood, he was sure that that work would be carefully and efficiently attended to. He didn't know that he had anything more to say at present, and he would hand over, to the High-Bailiff, as chairman of the local committee, the title deeds of the property, and so transfer the care of the institution from the Noble trustees to the local committee of management.-He then formally presented Mr Cruickshank with the deeds.

Mr J. M. Cruickshank, High-Bailiff of Ramsey, said that it was with feelings of the greatest gratitude that he accepted, on behalf of the local committee, this magnificent and munificent gift. The Noble's Trustees had removed from their midst a reproach which had attached to them for many years, that they had not adequately provided for the sick and needy among them. He was not going to harrow them with particulars as to such cases, because on such an occasion they would not be suitable; but he was glad to say that now, instead of the victim of an accident having to be taken 16 miles to Douglas, they would, thanks to the munificence of the Noble Trustees, be able to deal with him effectively on the spot, because they had at their command now an institution so up-to-date, complete, and well fitted up, as to make it possible to deal with cases no matter how serious. While they acknowledged the gift, they must bear in grateful remembrance the giver. After a strenuous life, Mr Noble amassed a large fortune, which he had left for the alleviation of suffering humanity. But those who had seen the terms of the deed would have noticed that part of the bargain only had been fulfilled. Part of the bargain was that they, the people of Ramsey, should undertake to maintain the institution which had been provided by the Noble's trustees. When this project was first mooted-or; rather, began to take practical form, for it was mooted first by the Rev George Paton, of revered memory-he and those who interested themselves in the matter could not see their way to carry it out. The question was raised by Mr and Mrs Anderson, of Ballaugh, in connection with a sad bereavement they sustained. They felt that they should do something to keep in memory their departed one, and they brought him and others together to see how far it was possible to provide for the town an institution of this kind. He was not sanguine. The cost of building would be £2,000, and then there would be the furnishing and maintenance. He thought it impossible until it struck some of them that it was an object which might commend itself to the Noble's trustees. He took it upon himself to approach them, and from the very moment it was mentioned to them they heartily entered into it. They had to-day the most up-to-date institution of its kind in the world. Well, as some of them were sanguine enough to believe that they would raise enough to build the hospital, he thought it had become within the range of practical politics for them to maintain it. But this was not going to be child's play. It was going to cost a considerable sum of money, and it was only by the strenuous exertion of the people of Ramsey that that institution could be kept up in any way commensurate with the building and its fittings. It was to them, to the people of Ramsey, and to the visitors to Ramsey, that they would have to depend. If they were to keep to their word it meant great exertion on the part of the committee, and liberal support on the part of the people of Ramsey. The exertion on their part would not be wanting, and he was sure that the support would not be wanting. He would likë, before concluding, to thank the secretary of their local committee, Mr Cowley. They were also greatly indebted to Mr and Mrs Anderson for the personal interest they had taken in the matter, in addition to the very substantial- sum of 2250, which they had contributed to the. endowment fund. Others had given amounts of 250, but did not wish their names to be mentioned, and several others had responded most liberally. Then the Baume trustee he had to thank, for without his assistance they would not have carried out the work. He concluded by formally moving a hearty vote of thanks to the Noble trustees.

Dr Sugden, in seconding the motion, said he did so with feelings of deep gratefulness. They also had to thank Mr Maitland for his gift of £1,000 from the Baume Trust. As regarded the hospital, it would be run on the strictest lines possible as far as economy was concerned. lie would also like to thank Mr T. Cowley and the High-Bailiff, and urged upor. those present to come to the rescue of the institution with small regular donations. Last year £100 was raised on Hospital Sunday, and if that could be done each year it would be satisfactory.

The High-Bailiff put the motion, which was carried with applause.

In response, Mr A. Hill, one of the Noble's trustees, thanked them for the very cordial vote of thanks. Mr Noble's trustees regarded it as a great honour and privilege to be able to provide this institution for Ramsey and district. They hoped that full use would be made of it. He hoped that those who made use of it would after they had been cured make it known throughout the neighbourhood of the splendid treatment to be had there. If they did so it would become popular.

Alderman Clucas also responded. He remarked that as to the furnishing there would be no renewals required for many years to come. The furnishing had been left to him and they had the very best, and everything had been purchased in Ramsey.

The Rev D. S. Cowley, after an overture by the band, during which a collection was made, moved a vote of thanks to Baumq's trustee, Mr and Mrs Anderson, and other donors towards the endowment fund, in a very eloquent speech.

Mr Vondy seconded the motion, which was carried with applause.

Mr D. Maitland, the only surviving trustee of the late Peter Henry Baume, in response, said it was a very great pleasure to him, when approached, to contribute a sum of money for this purpose from the funds of which he was trustee. He never subscribed to anything so readily as to that hospital. He expressed regret at the mistake made by the Douglas Hospital Committee in not accepting the offer of the Noble's trustees to build a new hospital.

Mr D. E. Anderson said he thanked them from the bottom of his heart for himself and Mrs Anderson for the kind vote of thanks. This was the happiest day in their lives.

Mr Henman, the architect, on behalf of himself and his partner, then presented the Clerk of the Rolls with a key.

The Clerk of the Rolls accepted on behalf of Dean Lefroy, and complimented the archtiects on their work, and wished them further success.

The Clerk of the Rolls then opened the building, which was inspected by the people present.

Dean Lefroy arrived just as the people were leaving the building, and he delivered a characteristic speech to those who remained.

Dean Lefroy said he unfeignedly regretted that a series of unfortunate collisions had prevented him from being present at the opening ceremony. He said he carried a message of good wishes from Mr Kneale, another trustee, whom he described as an honest lawyer (laughter)-not, he explained amid more laughter, that he regarded lawyers generally as dishonest. They were, on the whole, quite as honest as the clergy, though that might not be saying very much (loud laughter). He urged upon the gathering the importance of sustaining the work which had been commenced that day. Noble's trustees had bought the site and paid for the erection of the building, which, he could assure them, was of the very highest character. They had got the best architect they could obtain, and had equipped the building in a manner thoroughly up-to-date, and it now remained for the people of Ramsey to stand by the trustees and maintain the building, as they had undertaken that day, in its efficiency. Some people might think that the Noble's trustees, having erected and equipped the building, might also have endowed it; but they believed in helping those who helped themselves. One reason for increasing the present endowment fund was the enormous improvement taking place in the methods of dealing with disease. A hundred years ago there were numbers of cases which should have been dealt with surgically, but which were referred to medical treatment because the surgeons of the day could not face these cases. In this way numbers of people died because the true method of dealing with their ailments was not then known. This method of treatment was now known as the antiseptic treatment, discovered by Pasteur, the great French physician, and also discovered and expanded by Lord Lister. Antiseptic treatment literally meant perfect cleanliness. He believed with all his heart the divine doctrine that dirt in any form was death, and this antiseptic treatment effected the cleanliness of the patient, the spotless purity of the instruments, the fitness of the room in which the operations were performed, and even the cleanliness of the nurses who had to deal with the patient. There was no object in Nature so infectious as the corruption of the human body, and the first duty of the surgeons was to get the body absolutely clean. He contrasted the old methods of wiping the instruments with a cloth with the present system of boiling and sterilising. Nowadays, he said, everything could be spoiled by one dirty nurse. There was not in the whole range of medicine a change so salutary as the change between the nurse of fifty years ago and the nurses of the present day. He concluded by appealing to them to support the hospital, and by so doing mitigate suffering, alleviate disease, cement together the homes of the working classes, prolong life, and baffle death (applause).