CHAPTER VIII.
Diseases on the Diggings—The Castlemaine Hospital— Early Days of Castlemaine—Join a Bank.
In the early days of the goldfields, dysentery and ophthalmia were the only forms of disease; the one arising from want of food, for mutton was almost quivering when placed in the frying pan, the damper too crude for the stomach of the new chum, and the lodgings on the “cold ground” too much for many. Again, the glare of light through the single calico tent was too much for the eyes of many. Medical men then came in contact with many a case in which they could afford but little benefit, and it was soon seen that unless some shelter could be afforded the helpless digger, death must be the natural consequence. There was no lack of money, for the doctor was hardly inside the tent-door before the fee was tendered, but a golden aid could not cure dysentery. The subject of an hospital had engaged the attention of several of the benevolent, but at that time it seemed a formidable undertaking. One day my attention was directed to a small tent, which stood immediately in front of where the Bank of New South Wales now stands. On looking in at the door I saw what at first sight seemed to be a log of wood. On closer inspection I found that it was two sheets of bark tightly tied round some object, and that it was the body of some fine fellow who had died during the night. His mates too had been ill, they had had bad luck and could only afford to bind their companion in two sheets of bark. I observed two small bits of wood tied so as to form a rude cross, and this was fixed over the left breast of deceased. He lay alone, for his mates had gone to seek some minister to commit his remains to their resting place. This incident gave an occasion for a few gentlemen to meet and consider the hospital question, and the first committee was formed at a meeting held at the Rev. Mr. Low’s tent on the camp reserve. Good Friday was the day fixed on to go round and receive subscriptions. A considerable sum was obtained without much difficulty; application was made to Government for a site, which was soon granted. The resident warden (Captain Bull) accompanied the committee, and the present site of the hospital was decided upon. The Government gave a grant-in-aid, a surgeon was obtained, and provision made for about thirty patients in a small wooden building erected at a cost of £700. The ward was opened by a tea meeting and ball. H. M‘Millan was the builder, who, with the assistance of his
