Healthcare - Progress or Trip to the Past
We went to see my grandson's football game in San Angelo this past Friday. Since he lives an 8 hour drive away, San Angelo is only a 3 hour drive from San Antonio so we grabbed the chance to see him. His team won so that was good.
We stayed over night at the Angelo Inn - Goodfellow AFB guest housing - one of the perks of military retirement. I cannot say enough good things about the Inn. The rooms were spotless, the furnishings comfortable, the kitchenette stocked and the price half what a much less comparable room would have been in town. Five stars to the staff of the Angelo Inn at Goodfellow AFB.
In the morning we checked out and went to see historic Fort Concho. Like the Alamo in San Antonio, Fort Concho is in the city limits of San Angelo. Only a small portion of the fort is preserved, but that portion is very nicely done. A barracks building is set up as it would have been in 1870. A few of the houses for officers were still maintained.
The docents were friendly and very informative. I was very impressed by the furnishings - especially a piano that had been donated, along with a note stating that the piano had been used at the fort. A local had purchased the large square grand piano when the fort closed and the owner could not provide transportation to move it.
The base commander's house is now a bed and breakfast (no breakfast but does have a working kitchen) and is complete with resident ghost. A twelve year old named Edith died of a fever in the house over 140 years ago. The furnishings - not original - but period museum quality pieces. The bathrooms are modern and wheelchair friendly.
Earlier in the morning there had been a memorial service complete with cannon salute that set off every car alarm for 2 blocks. The family of the gentleman had rented the bed and breakfast for a dinner. They were cleaning up as we came by and graciously invited us in to see the restored home.
The hospital has been reconstructed as the original was struck by lightning and destroyed. Considering what they had to work with, it is indeed a wonder any one survived a wound or sickness.
The shelves were "stocked" with glass bottles - most with the labels still clinging to the bottle. Alcohol, liniment, cure-alls, and a variety of herbal concoctions. There was even a bottle of leaches. Maggots and leaches were the modern medicine of the day. All the beds had mosquito netting which served not only to keep mosquitoes away but roaches, spiders and mice as well. The indoor privy was constructed of hardwood sitting holes with slide out boxes underneath. The boxes were filled with charcoal and ashes. The bathtub was smaller than the tin we use to bath the dog.
One medical marvel I found very interesting was a device that delivered an electrical charge. The patient would sit with an electrode on one hand and depending on which way you turned the handle you delivered either a positive or negative charge. The literature said this would balance the body and return the mind to a normal peaceful state. The literature also said it was not a unpleasant experience.
This device as well as the iron lung on display was never used at the fort, but was simply on display as examples of early medical breakthroughs.
As we move forward in time with new discoveries about the human body, we sometimes return to the old. Yes, maggots and leaches are now being used in hospitals once again. When you manage to develop infections that are resistant to all antibiotics, you can fall back on maggots to clean out the infection.
When artificial super cures have more than their share of side effects that are worse than the original problem, sometimes simple herbs can bring relief.
Back to my weekend -- on the way home we stopped in a small town called Eden for a late lunch. Dairy Queen was about the only choice. After we placed our order we sat down and then noticed the floor was filthy. Tables were clean. The order was typical DQ, fried and overly peppered. Before getting back on the road it was bathroom time. Oh my gosh -- I've been in cleaner out houses. If you ever go through Eden Texas DO NOT STOP, or at least do not go to the DQ.
Both Saturday and Sunday I had a headache that just would not stop. By Sunday I was feeling a little feverish. I was also suffering from diarrhea. Oh well, I had been around so many people it would not be a difficult thing to pick up a cold or flu virus.
Monday, the diarrhea finally stopped late afternoon and the headache mostly went away. Today I feel fine. So was it a 24/48 hour virus or possibly food poisoning.
until next time - smile
Sharon
AnswersforYourHealth.com
We stayed over night at the Angelo Inn - Goodfellow AFB guest housing - one of the perks of military retirement. I cannot say enough good things about the Inn. The rooms were spotless, the furnishings comfortable, the kitchenette stocked and the price half what a much less comparable room would have been in town. Five stars to the staff of the Angelo Inn at Goodfellow AFB.
In the morning we checked out and went to see historic Fort Concho. Like the Alamo in San Antonio, Fort Concho is in the city limits of San Angelo. Only a small portion of the fort is preserved, but that portion is very nicely done. A barracks building is set up as it would have been in 1870. A few of the houses for officers were still maintained.
The docents were friendly and very informative. I was very impressed by the furnishings - especially a piano that had been donated, along with a note stating that the piano had been used at the fort. A local had purchased the large square grand piano when the fort closed and the owner could not provide transportation to move it.
The base commander's house is now a bed and breakfast (no breakfast but does have a working kitchen) and is complete with resident ghost. A twelve year old named Edith died of a fever in the house over 140 years ago. The furnishings - not original - but period museum quality pieces. The bathrooms are modern and wheelchair friendly.
Earlier in the morning there had been a memorial service complete with cannon salute that set off every car alarm for 2 blocks. The family of the gentleman had rented the bed and breakfast for a dinner. They were cleaning up as we came by and graciously invited us in to see the restored home.
The hospital has been reconstructed as the original was struck by lightning and destroyed. Considering what they had to work with, it is indeed a wonder any one survived a wound or sickness.
The shelves were "stocked" with glass bottles - most with the labels still clinging to the bottle. Alcohol, liniment, cure-alls, and a variety of herbal concoctions. There was even a bottle of leaches. Maggots and leaches were the modern medicine of the day. All the beds had mosquito netting which served not only to keep mosquitoes away but roaches, spiders and mice as well. The indoor privy was constructed of hardwood sitting holes with slide out boxes underneath. The boxes were filled with charcoal and ashes. The bathtub was smaller than the tin we use to bath the dog.
One medical marvel I found very interesting was a device that delivered an electrical charge. The patient would sit with an electrode on one hand and depending on which way you turned the handle you delivered either a positive or negative charge. The literature said this would balance the body and return the mind to a normal peaceful state. The literature also said it was not a unpleasant experience.
This device as well as the iron lung on display was never used at the fort, but was simply on display as examples of early medical breakthroughs.
As we move forward in time with new discoveries about the human body, we sometimes return to the old. Yes, maggots and leaches are now being used in hospitals once again. When you manage to develop infections that are resistant to all antibiotics, you can fall back on maggots to clean out the infection.
When artificial super cures have more than their share of side effects that are worse than the original problem, sometimes simple herbs can bring relief.
Back to my weekend -- on the way home we stopped in a small town called Eden for a late lunch. Dairy Queen was about the only choice. After we placed our order we sat down and then noticed the floor was filthy. Tables were clean. The order was typical DQ, fried and overly peppered. Before getting back on the road it was bathroom time. Oh my gosh -- I've been in cleaner out houses. If you ever go through Eden Texas DO NOT STOP, or at least do not go to the DQ.
Both Saturday and Sunday I had a headache that just would not stop. By Sunday I was feeling a little feverish. I was also suffering from diarrhea. Oh well, I had been around so many people it would not be a difficult thing to pick up a cold or flu virus.
Monday, the diarrhea finally stopped late afternoon and the headache mostly went away. Today I feel fine. So was it a 24/48 hour virus or possibly food poisoning.
until next time - smile
Sharon
AnswersforYourHealth.com
posted by sharono at 8:39 AM
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