HEALTH CARE

Early Spring Coulee settlers depended on their
neighbours for help and medical assistance
during illness and childbirth. Women skilled in
nursing care and midwifery were called upon in
times of need.

Early residents such as Mrs. Herman Johnson Sr.
Mrs. Chapman. Mrs. Lundridge and Mrs. Rice, only
to name a few, helped out in emergencies.

Tom Beswick in his biography recounts that he was
born in 1911, at home, with Mrs. Lundridge in
attendance as was common practice in early
settlements. In the 1920's and 30's nursing or
maternity homes were operated in Magrath and
Cardston and women from Spring Coulee began to
have their children in these facilities.

Illnesses and childbirth requiring more extensive
care were treated at the early Galt and Harlan
Women's Hospitals in Lethbridge. Later when
medical and hospital facilities became available
in Cardston and Magrath, Spring Coulee residents
began to seek medical attention closer in proximity
to their community. Spring Coulee in the earlier
years was considered part of the Cardston Hospital
District but in 1951 the Magrath Hospital Board
convinced the Cardston Board and the Provincial
Government that it should be part of the the Magrath
Municipal Hospital Dictrict. Ralph Thompson was one
of the board members in 1942 when the Magrath
Hospital became known as a Municipal Hospital. Tom
Beswick was the board member for Spring Coulee
when the new Magrath Municipal Hospital was
opened in June 1961 and served on the board for
many years. David Hofer and Ellen Stanford also
served terms on the board.

Doctors in the area during the Depression were
in financial difficulties due to the fact that many
patients could not pay for medical service. The
idea of health insurance was discussed in the
Cardston District and in 1931 a Medical Contract
Committee was set up. In 1932, Drs. Malloy and
Broyton began to sign contract in the district for
medical services. The cost to each family for a
year was $25.00 and Spring Coulee residents
began to take advantage of this service. Later,
doctors in Magrath also began to sign contracts.
In the 1940's a contract for prenatal care and
delivery was $35.00. In the early years doctors
made house calls. Some of these doctors included
from Cardston: Drs. Stackpoole, Roy, Malloy, Dobry,
and from Magrath; Drs. Fowler, Ayre, Schreiber,
Magid and McPherson.

Immunization for diptheria, smallpox and whooping
cough was started in the Spring Coulee School
around 1938. Many adults recall standing in line
for innoculations or vaccinations, questioning
the necessity of being lined up and watching their
classmates receive the dreaded needle. Fainting was
common among students.

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