What does a five year old know? I thought living in a construction zone was normal, half my closest friends also lived with constant construction. Everybody’s family ate differently, so frequent beans and cornbread seemed normal. What did I know about income levels?
I mean, sure, bubble baths and Crest were a fun treat, but we only had a shower at home. Tooth powder was fine, but I didn’t like the taste of baking soda when we ran out.
I admit to a bit of envy over my friend’s Bactine and band aids. Iodine really stung, but sometimes my friends even got it for more serious cuts. Gauze and adhesive tape was an uncomfortable option I tried to avoid. Most of the time, hold a piece of toilet paper on it till it stopped bleeding was fine.
The worst was my dad’s home remedies, especially black powder. Yeah, you read that right. If a cut or scrape looked like it might be getting infected, he would smash some of the black gun powder that was used for his old muzzle loader between two spoons and mix in a bit of milk. If you know the sting of iodine, double it.
The main treatment of colds was Vicks Vapo-rub. The main treatment for recovering from any cold or flu was tea and toast. And back then, the only vaccine we received was smallpox. We only got a tetanus shot after we had a wound that seemed to warrant it. The rest: mumps, measles, chicken pox, whooping cough, we suffered through. Some didn’t survive.
I don’t remember if it was in Kindergarten or 1st grade when the school gave us sugar cubes of Polio vaccine. We knew people crippled by this horrible illness. I think the whole country was grateful for the vaccine. We all went to the school one evening and lined up to get our small paper cup with the sugar cube doused with pink liquid, parents included. Twice. I think about a month apart.
One day I was sitting next to my teacher, Mrs. Cary, watching the chaos of the kindergarten playground and telling her about the two kittens that had recently joined our house. She looked down at me and, lifting my bangs, asked “What is on your forehead?”
I was sent to the nurse’s office and my parents were called. When my brother got home from Jr. High he was checked. We both had ring worm. The doctor was called and we had to stay home until we were cleared. I think we may have had a prescription cream that had to be picked up. A patch of my brother's hair was shaved. That night, we both got the gun powder treatment.
So our new kittens were checked and proved to be the source. Only rich people took cats to the vet. My dad dipped them, I think it was in turpentine. My brother had to help. I had to watch. Like somehow, we had done something wrong by catching this scourge from them.
The kittens did not survive, gone and buried in the yard by the next day. I have to believe my dad thought this might cure them. I think if he intended to end their lives, he would have been more humane.
The old mountain and farm cures were harsh and not always reliable. The world is harsh and poor kids had to learn to survive. I can show you some scars. Things slowly got better. Within a few years, the gun powder was replaced by an antibacterial ointment, though we were never a Bactine and Bandaid family. We also got Crest, but were instructed to use a small bit, not cover the length of the brush like on commercials.
Things continue to change. Our staple ointment was later found to have a problem and has since been replaced based on advancing knowledge. Hydrocortisone, that saved me from my extreme reaction to poison oak, was prescription only at the time. And vaccines! All the vaccines! I used to be sceptical of the need for flu shots, but since I started getting them every year I have not had a flu that developed into bronchitis, which was becoming more and more serious each time I got it.
I’m not saying they always get it right, but if we don’t keep supporting research and science education, it will never get better. I bet every person my age can tell you about someone they knew who was crippled or never got a chance to grow up. Listen to the stories. The old cures were harsh and undependable. Listen to the people who have lived it.
Note 1: Very few photos were taken during this time of my life that were not dressed up and posed. Most, like y=this one, were taken at my grandma's house. this one was early 1959 so just before i turned 5 and went to Kindergarten.
Note 2: I apologize that this is a day late, but also I will probably change my regular day for this blog to Wednesday. I am starting to get some regular busy Tuesdays doing music and stuff.
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