WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 11,e 1977, PAGE 3 It wouldn't be an educated guess for me to estimate that at least 25% of you have been to the hospital lately either as a patient or visiting a friend. In fact, it was only on a recent visit of rny own thaLlI realized hospitals are booming places, and at times as crowded as Toronto's Union Station. Unfortunately my visit was not in the capacity as a flower and card carrying visitor. I was due to "go under the knife" as they say. Nothing too serious, just a sore throat that wouldn't clear up but it gave me the opportunity of seeing firsthand what happens from the time you enter the adrnitting department until the time you you are patiently waiting in a wheelchair by the car ramp, waitîng for a ride homne. I've had the opportunity of seeing this firsthand before, but that was many years ago and looking back 1 was hoping things had changed for the better since then. Some had, some hadn't. The adrnitting department had changed for the better. Years ago on my arrivai I was treated like they weren't happy to see me, they weren't sure if they could even find rôom for me and if they could, they were going to find me the nastiest nurse in the building. And above ail, if 1 couldn't give thern my OHIP number right then and there they wouldn't even let me in at ail. I got the feeling that the hospital wvas a front, for some other kind of operation and admittîng patients completely messed up the wvhole works. This time wvas different. 1 was escorted to a littie interview room and of course asked a lot of questions. This time however they didn't seem too concerned if there was any history of mental illîiess in rny famnily, or whiat my grandmother died of and they didn't seen at ail interested in what my favourite kind of ice cream wvas. The last question 1 thought for sure they wvou1d ask me since 1 was going to have my throat operated on and everybody knows when you corne out of that kind of an operation ail you can have to eat is nice cold ice cream. The fact is 1 guess we were both better prepared. 1 did not wear rings or watch ta the hospital and 1I had mny OIIIP number with me. I had littie cash or anything else in i y pockets and 1 brought a pocket book to while away the hours 1 knew would be spent waiting for different de partments ta allow me through the process fromi admitting to operation. I knew after that 1 wouldn't care The hospital efficiency was sa good 1 started to get bored. After ail, if a patient hasn't gat a few thîngs to gripe about he loses a reason to be spunky and get well quicker. My first side tour xvas a small lab where they had to get some of my blood. 1 also had to give them a sample and 1 al could find around the house was an empty bottie that used to hold film developer sa when 1 set the jar on the desk the nurse looked at me with raised eyebrows. Before she got to ask the question I remarked, "Sample, only bottle 1 could find". No doubt there would be many more raised eyebrows further down the assembly line as each nurse got a look at the label. As the blood charged out the tube 1 began ta suspe t I ¶ might just bleedto death before 1 ever got operated on but after what seemned like an eternity the nurse withdrew the needle and whisked away the sample. Next stop aperation prep. This is the part where you remove your clothies and replace them with a backless gown. Now Klinger 1 ain't but I must say the gown was rather tatty and lacking in V style. Drafty tao. 1 decided ta completely relax and leave p everything to the professionals so 1 stretched out on the Odds On The odds for any par- ticular woman ta give birth ta twins at a particular time ar one in 87. The odds aanta bridge player being 'dealt a hand con- (taining six cards of one suit. four of another. twa of a third and one of a fourth are about 20 to 1. Among 10 people the probability is one to 10 that two of them will have the same bîrthday: among 25 people, the probability is five to 10. gurney and read my book. 1 feil asleèp doing so and when ! awoke I was s0 relaxed in the quiet atniosphere 1 almiost feil asleep again., To my chagrin 1 was awake long enough to get a needle in the butt that was supposed ta relax me for the operation -and the anaesthetic. I didn't bother ta argue that 1 was already relaxed and didn't need the,,needle. I figured they had a quota of needles to give and if 1 refu.sed Bob Young elected it would throw out of the whole systemn. After a long ride on the gurney 1 finally made it to the OR. and as 1 lay on my back looking up at masked people and bright lighits 1 still couldn't get over the feeling t hat th'. rnasks were to hide the faces sa, if they goofed on the operation yau wouldn't be able to identify the criminals in a police lineup. And after that the lights went on. SAIl in all 1 can say, my recent visit was much more pleasant than mny last visit but I still can't shake my attitude that hospital are nice_ places to visit, if you have as 97 pr si entofta, but 1 would't want ta live in oe Can adian Seottish Club , 911e11f Bob Yaung, of Whitby was The Canadian Scottish recently elected president of Club has about 60 members, MIKE'S HAIRSTYLING . the Canadian Scottish Club. living in the Whitby-Oshawa __ Mr. Young, who has been area.- Sli a resident of Whitby for six . HairstyliIg for plèaised years, works for IBM in Don-.. MEN "1 Mis. He has been involved ULVRS11 \ / to announce its111 n minar soccer, and has been CUCUMBERS ric amember of the Canadian i GliesTaes"2n Anniversary DI Scottish Club for the past Jonathan Swift praposed extract- 61D na t .Yhty~ j two years. ing sunbeams fram cucuznbes 6 1D na t .W i The club has also elected and storing them ta warî in- 811 Town Plaiza (2 barbers), 668-7800ý Frank Webster and Jack clement summers. ïI II -... 04 Mr. Doug Johnston, the new owner of Glenwood Lincoln * Mercury Sales Limited in Whitby (formerly Seaway Mo tors) cordially invites you to corne in to our dealership and look over the complete line of quality automobiles from the Lincoln * Mercury Division of the Ford Motor Company. While you're here, feel free to inspect our Body Shop and Service Departments, which we feel are the finest in the area. At Glenwood Lin coIn *Mercury we believe in integrity and a sincere wish to make our customers happy and to keep them happy, both before and after their purchase. Again we say, please corne in and say hello ... we'd be delighied to meet you. LINCOLN-MERCURY SALES LIMITED "At Glenwood we sincerely care." WhitbyJ ý112O Drndas.St. E. 6-59 HEART BEAT Coronary Risk Evaluation including *Blaad test ta determine: cha lesterai, triglycerides and glucose *Blaad pressure *Medical history *Evaluatian sponsored by Seventh-day Adventist Health Services Staff includes *physician * abaratary technicians * dietitian *nurses CALL NOVV for your FREE appointmeflt or information (reservations imited> 723»-2401 579-7118 '4A ý9ttv-[tat[oA 668-5893 1