THE COUNTRY DOCTOR The country doctor and his horse are unsung heroes of the past. Operations were performed on kitchen tables and all the lesser ills and accidents were taken care of on the spot and a great measure of success was obtained. Tonsils removed, teeth extracted, broken limbs repaired, cuts sutured, and illnesses e.g. pneumonia cured with mustard plasters and rest. T.B . so prevalent causing a high death rate in the younger people was hard to cure, bed rest, fresh air, and to keep the patient isolated from other members of the family was difficult, often a specially constructed building would be built for this purpose, (galloping consumption) was a common killer. Doctors were on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and travelled great distances by wagon, sleigh and on foot and often be away several days at a time. Their renumeration was uncertain, much of it received in goods or fuel. Home remedies were relied upon and all con¬ finements were at home, cared for by a "granny", who assisted the doctor who was not always available. In later years more and more use was made of hospitals and medical service more centralized, the elderly were more or less forced to seek care in an institution far removed from familiar surroundings and loved ones. For a number of years doctors did not make house calls", but now in 1977 the trend is changing and some medical at¬ tention can be received at home, and it is becoming more apparent that people can be cared for in their own homes at a much less expense with the help of a visiting nurse or home maker. Doctors who served this area over the years and at the present time are highly respected and will long be remembered for their service to mankind are: Dr. Cooper (1820); Dr, Crafer (1825-1857); Dr. William Keir (1850- 1916); Dr. James Beairsto ; Dr. Erskine Keir ; Dr. James Keir ; Dr. Edward Gillis ; Dr. Walter P . McBride; Dr. MacNeill ; Dr. Frederick and Dr. Ingham Jardine ; Dr. William Heinz ; Dr. J.K. Beer ; Dr. Waldron Auld ; Dr. Marvin Clark ; Dr. Ross Davison ; Dr. L.K. Zielinski ; Dr. A. Cole ; Dr. R. Chaisson ; Dr. S.R. Cameron and Dr. James Hickey . Before the days of penicillin this old remedy taken from an old newspaper clipping A cure for cough: Take two tablespoons of brown sugar, one teaspoon of powdered salt petre, one teaspoon of powdered alum, and mix well together. This is recommended as a very soothing remedy for a cough. ■