Rencontre East, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada
Isolated and Loving It
History of Rencontre East:
tuberculosis screening
In 1947, the Newfoundland anti-TB league purchased this naval boat from the United States Navy. The "Christmas Seal" was equipped with mobile x-ray equipment to screen residents of outport Newfoundland for tuberculous. It was brought into service because most of the population could not reach the screening centres, so this floating unit came to them. Because of this, the disease decreased dramatically in rural outports.
Links:
- Article about the Christmas Seal and Captain Troake.
(from the Lung Association) - 1961 CBC television news feature about the Christmas Seal
(requires RealPlayer and good internet connection)
links to other related audio and video clips