The digitized observations and musings of a man who personally saw the history of medicine unfold in this province have been officially launched at Memorial University.
Dr. Nigel Rusted was a member of Memorial University College’s inaugural class back in 1925.
He passed away in 2012 at the age of 104.
He kept a diary from 1925 right to 2012. His family donated the diaries to the Faculty of Medicine’s Founders’ Archive.
Dr. Jim Connor a professor of medical humanities and history of medicine told Paddy Daly on the VOCM Morning Show, the diaries are invaluable. Not only do they document his long and productive life, he documents the province’s history as it was happening.
Dr. Connor says Rusted was on call the night of the tragic Knights of Columbus Hostel fire December 12, 1942.
His entry reads; “Got a call to go to the Grace and help. A lot of service fellows there with burnt hands, faces and legs, over 100 injured. Got home at 2:00 a.m..”
You can read the diaries here. Hear Dr. Connor’s discussion with VOCM’s Paddy Daly here: