DICK'S HOUSE

DARTMOUTH students are a robust lot, but when they do become ill or have an accident, they fortunately have at their disposal a first-rate Health Service that provides, without charge, medical care, hospitalization and surgery. In scope and quality, this service probably has no peer among the college health programs in the country. One reason for this is the close tie-in with the professional staff of the Hitchcock Clinic and with the special facilities of the Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital. Another reason, and a big one, is Dick's House, the college infirmary.

Dick's House is a superlatively useful memorial to Richard Drew Hall '27, who died in his sophomore year. It was given 25 years ago by his parents, the late Edward K. Hall '92 and Sally Drew Hall. In the words of its donors, "the purpose of Dick's House is to provide a home for the boys of Dartmouth when they are sick or ailing. It is our hope that the boys will come to feel that 'going up to Dick's House' is the next best thing to going to their own homes when they are in need of either the care or the surroundings that the dormitory or fraternity house is unable to furnish."

Dartmouth students have always felt that way about Dick's House. The infirmary, with its resident House Mother, possesses an unusual home-like atmosphere; but at the same time it is a modern and efficient hospital, boasting the distinction of membership in the American Hospital Association. During the college year 1951-52 it took care of 1,191 in-patients and handled 10,003 out-patient visits. Its staff of 14 nurses and nine others keeps busy, especially in the winter when ski fractures and sniffles are plentiful. Dick's House will long remember March 17, 195 a. On that day, as a result of a measles epidemic, Miss Lois Dunn and her staff had 115 infirmary cases and opened up an annex in the DOC House to take care of 50 of the spotted victims.

A stay in Dick's House is far more pleasant when there's company, such as enjoyed by these students in the surgery ward, named for President Emeritus Hop- kins. In the rear is the 1927 Lounge containing a youthful portrait of Dick Hall. Most infirmary rooms are named for presidents of the College.

Dr. John B. McKenna, psychiatrist on the Health Service staff, does much of his work with students at Dick's House. Here he is shown going over medical records before an interview.

Dick's House has its own staff of 14 nurses, most of whom are shown with the other staff members who contribute to the infirmary's efficient operation. Four night nurses and two house men are missing from the picture.

An excellent library is one of the special attractions of Dick's House. Most of the volumes, personally inscribed, were given by friends of the Hall family, and others were presented by alumni.

Immunization shots in untold numbers, including those for the ROTC units, are given at the infir- mary. Here Mrs. Davis, the out-patient nurse, ad- ministers yet another.

A cheering note for the roommate. Students may visit during definite hours as cases permit.

Two guest rooms, for parents who might need to be near a boy seri- ously ill, are examples of the thoughtful and loving care Mr. and Mrs. Hall gave to the planning of Dartmouth's infirmary.

Miss Lois A. Dunn, R.N., M.N., who has been House Mother and Administrator of Dick's House since 1947, shown with Dr. Ralph W. Hunter '3l, Medical Director of the College Health Service.

Learning to use crutches on the stairs, with a nurse as tutor, is part of the education of a good many Dartmouth men every year. Skiers are the infir- mary's best customers in this respect.

Some compensation for being laid up in the infir- mary is Green Key's Sunday night distribution of ice cream. Fenn Shrader '54 is shown dispensing the treat and receiving a happy grin in return.

The large living room of Dick's House provides an attractive and comfortable place where students may wait their turn during daily out-patient hours. The portrait above the fireplace is of Dick Hall as a student.

Ail for the sake of education: Dick's House patients are understanding subjects for second-year medics in the clinical diagnosis class, shown here with Dr. John Milne '37, Medical School professor.

A full and careful record is kept on each patient in Dick's House. The notebooks in the rack indicate the care given to this infirmary procedure.

The physical relationship of Dick's House to the Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital, right, is shown in this aerial view. The infirmary relies upon the hospital for operating, X-ray, laboratory and physiotherapy facilities, and also by special ar- rangement obtains food, light, heat and laundry service from it.

Ready 24 hours a day in case of an emergency is this short-wave unit at the college switchboard at the Inn. It is tuned in to the campus police cruiser- ambulance and also to the town police radio sys- tem. Its use is controlled by Dick's House.

A bedside visit by Dr. Hunter and Dr. George W. Welsh, his resident ass.stant, to see how things are going. An intern is on call 24 hours a day to handle emergency cases, and 39 of the Hitchcock Clinic specialists are readily available as members of the Health Service medical staff.

Even final exams are part of the routine. Here Miss Dunn proctors one for a convalescent student.