1914-07-21kk

Several patients in the hospital have been complaining about the noise made by the physician’s automobiles at the rear of the institution”

Hamilton Times.    July 21, 1914 .

It was an example of how times were changing , and of how structures that might have been appropriate just a few years earlier were appropriate no longer.

Hamilton’s largest  hospital in July 1914 was located on Barton street east near Victoria avenue. The current structure in place at the time had been designed in an era when there were no automobiles in use in Hamilton.

Automobiles were prevalent in the city by 1914 although mainly owned by people with a level of income to buy and maintain them, a level beyond the average citizen of the day.

Physicians in Hamilton in 1914 certainly had the means, and the ned to have automobiles for both their personal and professional needs. However, when the doctor parked his vehicle on the hospital grounds, an unforeseen problem arose.

Mr. Arthur Mitchell, accountant of Royal Bank’s Market branch, had an operation at the hospital to have his tonsils removed. He contacted a times reporter with his complaint:

“This gentleman remarked on the noise made by autos, and said that all night, at different times, the doctors would drive right up to the rear of the hospital and shut off their motors with a bang.

“He also stated that the first thing he heard when he came out of the anesthetic was the noise made by these machines, and that several other patients had also complained of being unable to sleep owing to this nuisance.”¹

¹ “Doctors’ Autos : Blamed By Patients for Much Noise at the City Hospital”

Hamilton Times. July 21, 1914.

Mr. Mitchell was unsure as how the problem could be handled, but had a suggestion :

“In his opinion, the hospital authorities should do something to overcome this evil, even if they made the doctors stop their cars on Victoria Avenue.”¹