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Background to the Auchterhouse turberculosis
hospital
2nd May 1899
A public meeting was held in the Town Hall
Dundee. 48 people attended including councillors, ministers and
doctors. The meeting was called "for
the purpose of considering and devising means for the establishment
and maintenance of a sanatorium for the treatment and cure of consumption."
Provost Moncur gifted
£10,000 originally but agreed later to meet the increased costs,
up to £25,000 for a 30 bed hospital. The Sanatorium Organisation
Committee was formed. It was recorded that "a
sanatorium for the treatment of consumptive cases is sorely needed
in Dundee".
24 January 1900
Meeting reported that "Lord
Airlie had offered the committee a free gift of a site at Auchterhouse
measuring fully 21 acres and in every way suitable for the erection
of a sanatorium".
William Alexander, Bank St, Dundee, was appointed
architect at a fee of 4% of the cost of the work. His plans were
approved in May 1900.
The Earl of Airlie's gift of land was recorded
in the Register of Sasines for the County of Forfar on 25 July 1900.
It was signed by him in Bloemfontein, South Africa, 28 days before
he died in battle near Pretoria.
Provost Moncur paid a further £5,000 to cover costs.
The Brae
A road from the village to the site was built
by John Gray and Son - 1288 yards long. It was finished at the end
of March 1901.
| THE DUNDEE
ADVERTISER FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 1901 AUCHTERHOUSE - extract
Preparations for beginning the building
of the Sanatorium are being actively carried forward. The
road leading from the village is approaching completion,
and the steam roller is putting on the finishing touches.
The foundations for the building are being dug, and the
planting of young trees on the ground surrounding is now
going on. |
- A quarry was opened which had a good supply
of excellent building stone. "A railway
has been laid down for the conveyance of the stones from the quarry
to any part of the buildings".
- It was difficult to get workers as there were
no lodgings to be had, so a hut was erected to house 24 men on
site, along with a stable.
- Tree planting and a wire fence around the property
were commenced at the same time as the building work.
- A total of 50 men worked on the site.
- Heating apparatus cost £645 Cooling apparatus
cost £101.7s 6d.
- A vegetable garden was proposed and a site approved.
- Some discussion about the conveyance of the
boiler, supplied by James Carmichael, from the station to the
site. The boiler was 7'6" x22' and weighed 12.5 tons (conveyed
between May-July 1902).
THE DUNDEE ADVERTISER, SATURDAY,
SEPTEMBER 27 1902
THE DUNDEE SANATORIUM FOR
CONSUMPTIVES
OPENED BY THE COUNTESS OF AIRLIE
HER LADYSHIP MADE BURGESS OF THE CITY
A LARGE AND FASHIONABLE GATHERING
The Dundee Sanatorium which has been
erected near the village of Auchterhouse, was formally
opened by the Countess of Airlie yesterday. The function
was brilliant and interesting. The weather fortunately
proved fine in that the proceedings were conducted chiefly
in the open air, took place under the most pleasant conditions.
There was a large party from Dundee, while members of
many county families from the surrounding district were
also present..
The cavalcade as it drove through Dundee and Lochee caused
quite a stir in the streets, and evoked the liveliest
interest amongst the inhabitants. The party gathered within
the extensive grounds of the building shortly after one
o'clock.
The work of laying out the grounds was far enough advanced
to give an idea of what they will be when completed, and
the visitors were thus enabled to admire the skill with
which the tough hillside has
been adapted for its intended purpose.
The buildings themselves were beautifully decorated with
flags, banners and flowers, and a number of the rooms
were furnished so as to show the appointments of the institution.
Those taking the principal part in the opening ceremony
were accommodated on the terrace, while the others were
seated on what is intended to be the lawn.
As to the possible usefulness of this Institution which
has been set apart today for this beneficent purpose there
can only be one opinion. The establishment of institutions
of this kind has been very much encouraged by the unanimous
approbation of the medical profession all over the country.
That this disease is no longer regarded by the medical
profession as either hereditary or as incurable - hence
the establishment of these sanatoria all over the kingdom
- is a circumstance that is calculated to bring an element
of hope to those sufferers, and be a source of satisfaction
to their relatives and friends.
The Institution so auspiciously opened today enters upon
its course of usefulness and will shelter
and bring healing to very many of our afflicted
sisters and brothers. That the sanatorium is splendidly
situated and admirably equipped for the work it is expected
to do will be present to all your minds. The site, as
most of you are aware, is the gift of the late Lord Airlie,
and was one of the last of the many proofs of his interest
in the people of Dundee - a gift which, apart from its
considerable monetary value, was enhanced by the cordiality
and readiness with which it was bestowed.
No better, and no more desirable
situation could have been obtained on any part
of the Airlie estate, or for that matter on any other
estate within measurable distance of Dundee. It possesses
several valuable advantages so necessary for an institution
of the kind.
There are the familiar Sidlaw Hills, sheltering the Institution
from the cutting north wind and from the cold and trying
east wind; there are sheltering woods in the rear, with
delightful walks - a health asset which cannot be overestimated.
The view to the front of the Institution as beautifully
open and uninterrupted - an invaluable advantage having
regard into the importance of an abundance of sunlight
in the healing of the disease..
You will be willing to acknowledge that there are few
lovelier prospects. "People
ought certainly not be impatient in regard to this treatment.
They ought not to expect results too soon. I am told it
takes two, three or four years before we can expect any
marked change." (Duke of Argyll)
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| Sanatorium |
STAFF
The first Medical Superintendant
was appointed at £250 per year - Dr Macfie, formerly of the Liverpool
Sanatorium
The first matron
was Violet Wilson. She received £70 per year. She was formerly from
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children in London.
Fireman Peter
Struthers from Aberdeen was appointed at 21s per week and free house,
coal and light, to look after the boiler, garden, joinery and window
cleaning and 'otherwise to make himself generally useful'.
Patients
The first admissions took place on 11th March
1903 and included the following:
| Douglas Freeland, Carnoustie |
paid £2/2s per week |
| Alexander MacNicoll, Dundee |
paid £2/2s per week |
| May MacDonald Brown, Dundee |
paid £2/2s per week |
| Jeannie Robertson, Dundee |
paid £1.00 per week |
| Netta Ross, Kirriemuir |
paid £1.10s per week |
| Peter Hean Sellars, Dundee |
paid 10s per week |
| Thomas Mackie Ness, Dundee |
paid 15s per week |
| Alexander Rea, Glasgow |
paid £1.05s per week |
| James Suttie, Brechin |
paid £2/2s per week |
Visitors were allowed on Saturday afternoons between
3pm and 6pm.
All applicants offering £2/2s were to be admitted
if passed by the Medical Superintendent and all other cases were
to be considered by the committee.
By 1903 the total expenditure on the building was
£20,764 12s 1d - all of which was paid for by Ex Provost Moncur
1903
Telephone line established
Letter from Albert Institute asking for stone
cists that were found. (See archaeology
section)
Jan 1904
The name was changed from The Dundee Sanatorium to The
Sidlaw Sanatorium.
Jan 1904
The County Council was asked to repair, put
in order and take over the roadway leading from Auchterhouse village
to the Sanatorium, on payment of £959.10s
During the first full year of operations 87 patients were admitted,
67 of whom were discharged, 1 died and 19 were still in residence.
The average stay was just under 4 months.
11 November 1904
adverts in BMJ, Lancet, Herald and Scotsman
February 1905
Mr W R Sharp gifted an Albion motor car to
the society for the transportation of patients from Auchterhouse
station to the society.
May 1905
Medical Supt. Macfie resigned. He was replaced
by A K Traill
August 1905
Lord Provost Moncur died. He left an additional
£5,000 in his will for the Sanatorium
28 March 1906
Opening of the pavilion paid for by
Mr Weinberg. Had billiards and bagatelle tables.
1907
A separate female pavilion was built, paid
for by Miss Symers
1908
An extra 8 acres southwards was leased from
the Airlie Estate to help overcome drainage and water supply problems
From 1907 the sanatorium was making a substantial
yearly loss of £500 - £700. The annual reports repeatedly say that
the sanatorium was endowed for the purpose of helping the working
classes of Dundee, but that it was not possible to do this due to
the need for paying patients to contribute to the costs of the establishment.
1909
Mr Traill resigned
Dec 1909
due to financial problems, the Directors agreed
to close the sanatorium at the end of the following year. Sir James
Caird offered £1,000 annually for 10 years if DRI would take it
over. DRI agreed and the transfer was completed in October 1910.
20 beds were to be reserved for adult pulmonary tuberculosis
Moving
from the administration of the hospital to what the patients themselves
thought of the establishment:
SIDLAW SANATORIUM
Christmas number of the Sidlaw Echo
Mon Dec 31st 1906
(2d No. 5)
Extracts
The Christmas hangings were good but why oh
why was mistletoe left out in the scheme of decorations? It has
been a custom from time immemorial to see a bunch of mistletoe suspended
amongst the holly. It is I'm afraid a sign of the times for it prophesises
that some years hence men and women shall wear muzzles like puppies
to prevent them meeting a rosy life. Germs again.
Limerick
There was a patient named H...
Who for walking was a terrible glutton.
He ran up Kinpurnie
And on the return journey
Ate a shoulder and leg of mutton.
There was another patient named H...
Who was supported by a solitary button
When that one gave way
Which it did one fine day
He exclaimed "my goodness that's rotten".
What a busy people we are here in the San! Even
the representative of the law is not allowed a total relaxation
from duty. He has been posted on duty in the subway several times
lately for the purpose of assisting distressed lackies up the incline.
Patient: "I suppose you often go to town?"
Sister: "Not very, it's such a very long walk to the station."
Patient: " But don't you go in the motor?"
Sister: "Oh no, the motor is not for that, it's for bringing up
parcels and patients not things like that."
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| Men
outside the Sanatorium |
Song with apologies to W.S. Gilbert
Esq and Patience
If you're anxious to belong to the atmospheric
throng
A fresh air fiend complete
You must rid yourself of germs
On the easiest of terms
And think the job a treat.
You must walk upon the Brae in whatever kind of day
As if a pleasant joke.
The weather doesn't matter, though you're teeth are all a-chatter
When out your head you poke.
And everyone will say, as you walk your breezy way
If bareheaded folk walk out on a day which scares tile-covered me
Why what a very singularly polar folki'm bold folk must be.
The eloquent in praise of the lack of ruddy
rays
Which have long since shunned the great
And convince'em if you can that the breezes of the San
And those of sinless Eden's happy state
Of course you will poo poo the believers in a flue
And instantly expel it from your room
For heat is but a trick of some truly ancient Nick
Who's spoiling for a carbonaceous fight
And everyone will say as you walk your cooler way if that's not
cool enough for him which is cold enough for me
Why what a very fridgidated kind of crowd this kind of crowd must
be.
The inner thermamatic passion of a scientific fashion must excite
your lovely souls. A Fahrenheit attachment on a Centigrade catchment
and flirtation with the poles.
To the world of coal and coker they'll think you've got a joker
And far removed from weakness of man.
If you walk out coat and hatless and seem at all the fatless
Everyone will say as you walk your healthy way
If they're content with a clinical love which would certainly not
suit me
Why what an odd particularly regulated crowd this regulated world
must be.
Christmas Festivities
Christmas Day was the day of days. Postman arrived
in the morning and as is superfluous to add he was heavily welcomed.
At 5 o' clock we gathered for dinner and such a gathering and such
a hall.
The elite of the Sanatorium were there. The dining
hall wore a festive look which is only seen on state occasions.
From rafter to rafter were ropes of evergreens and holly from which
were suspended brilliant Chinese lanterns shedding their subdued
light down on the goodly company in evening dress and dresses light
and airy.
The windows were closed for one night in the year.
The tables were set in the form of the letter E who were prettily
decorated reflecting great credit on somebody's good taste.
The menu card was printed as follows:
Game soup
Roast turkey
Roast suckling pig
mashed potatoes,
bread sauce
apple sauce
Brussel sprouts
Plum pudding,
Tiffany cake,
Rhubarb,
Mince pies,
Apricot éclair,
Banana trifle,
Cascade of prunes,
Charlotte Rousse,
apricot creams,
orange jellies |
The toast was opened by the Chairman Doctor Traill
with a toast of the King, The Army, Navy and Reserved Forces were
toasted by Mr White in an excellent speech and were responded to
by Mr Carl. He was not too complimentary to Dundee as he might have
been but doubtless spoke the truth.
The Trip to Norway
On December 18th we had a most enjoyable lecture
from the Rev Mr Inglis of Auchterhouse on Norway. The magic lantern
assisted with the series of some very fine slides.
December 27th
On Thursday of above date there took place in the recreation hall
the first exhibition of waxworks ever held in the Sanatorium. The
stage was beautifully decorated. A subdued light shed a soft radiance
over the statutory figures.
| Rules or bye-laws
for the management and regulation of
The Sidlaw Sanatorium, Auchterhouse, 1905 |
| RULES FOR PATIENTS |
- Patients must rest for an hour before dinner and supper,
i.e. from 12 to 1 and from 6 to 7.
- Patients must take their temperature four times a day,
viz.: at 8am, 12 noon, 6pm and 9pm.
- Patients will remain in bed only when instructed to
do so by the Doctor.
- Patients must take only such exercise as the Medical
Superintendent prescribes during his morning and noon
visits.
- Male and female patients must take their walks separately.
- No patient shall at any time go into a ward or room
occupied by any other patient without the express sanction
of the Medical Superintendent.
- No patient shall write any letter to the newspapers
or make any public complaint on any subject connected
with the Sanatorium without the same having first been
submitted to the Committee of Management through the Secretary.
- Patients must finish all food given them unless specially
exempted by the Medical Superintendent.
- Patients' windows must always be opened except when
dressing and undressing.
- Only such games as the Medical Superintendent sanctions
are permitted.
- Patients are forbidden to enter any shops or dwelling
houses during their walks unless specially permitted.
- Baths to be taken as prescribed by the Medical Superintendent.
- Patients must retire to bed at the hours prescribed
by the Medical Superintendent
- No patient shall leave the grounds of the Sanatorium
after supper without special permission.
- The Nurses have insructions to see that all Regulations
are strictly obeyed by those under their charge, and infringement
of any of the above Rules will render the patient liable
to dismissal.
DUNDEE 17th August 1905 - Adjusted
and approved of this date by the Executive Committee. F.B.
Sharp, Chairman Wm. H Blyth Martin, Hon. Secretary Minutes
of Sidlaw Sanatorium
(Dundee University Archives)
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