Both of these are relatives; above is Bella (Isabella or Isabelle) Ganton and below is Marie Akhurst.
They are both my 1st cousins, two times removed.
I have mentioned a few times over the past week or so that my mother had tuberculosis and spent over three years in a hospital in Muskoka. I was able to get a copy of the book 'The Plague and I' from the local library and read it over the weekend. It was written by a patient who was hospitalized at the same time period as my mother (although the author only spent about a year undergoing care). This book certainly gave me a lot of insight into the horrible 'treatments' that the patients had to undergo....including the barbaric practice of collapsing their lungs under the assumption that if the lung were collapsed it didn't have to work to breathe and therefore would help with healing. It's no wonder the death rate was so high!!
Here's another of the autographs from Mom's book, this one dated 15/8/40....
The flowers rest in season
More loveliness to shed
You've only paused to gain
New strength for days ahead
You've only paused to learn of
The friendships warm and true
That make a loving shelter
In times like this for you
My goodness.... I had no idea they collapsed lungs to try and 'cure' people with TB. Can you imagine how much more damage that must have done... it is a miracle anyone survived! Christine x
ReplyDeleteIsn't that a lovely poem and sentiment!
ReplyDeleteThe author was Betty MacDonald, who was first famous for writing The Egg and I about her first marriage and the chicken farm they lived on. Until after two years she ran away and went back to her mother! Taking her two babies. She also wrote Onions in the Stew about life with a different husband on an island near Seattle.Vashon island I believe. Colorful life. It was during that time that she came down with TB I think.
ReplyDeleteI had schoolfriends who went away with TB and had similar miserable experiences, out on open sided pavilions in all weathers. I wonder they didn't die of pneumonia!
These family photos are such treasures! As for the book you read... WOW. I cannot imagine lungs being collapsed intentionally. It almost makes you wonder what techniques in medicine today will be looked back upon as barbaric in the future.
ReplyDeletethis has been an interesting journey for you. I often wonder what life was like for my grandmother who was born in 1884 and lived in Chicago. She wasn't my REAL grandmother. I have no real information about my parents. If I did, I would probably enjoy researching my roots.
ReplyDeletexx, Carol
Oh my. Your post made me shudder. I don't know how people made it through, and I know many didn't. Love your pics.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Those images of children are so special! Very nice of you to share them. Some of the ways patients were treated in the past and some of the suggested cures are mind boggling, but some of the natural remedies you read about now sound better than some of the 'medicinal' treatments with so many side effects. I often wonder if they will look back some day at chemotherapy and radiation and think it was insane. Is progress really progress.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly IS startling to realize how far medicine has come = thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteWhat a hardship (that's putting it lightly!!!) for all those affected back then.
Those sure are some precious and cute relatives you had.
Extra nice that you appreciate them too.
oxo
You are such a tease.
ReplyDeleteAs Boud ( above) said its a wonder they did not die of pneumonia!!
Those are just the cutest photos, the girls are adorable and i love the pram with the basket and huge wheels. Gosh aren't we glad for medical developments? But horrible to think of those having their lungs collapsed to cure their TB, must have been distressing to read about it for you as well. You write the loveliest comments on my blog, they are always much appreciated - thank you :) Glad you are getting to know Myanmar a little better!
ReplyDeleteHave a happy day
Wren x
Oh My Heavens. The "practice" of medicine was very strange back in those days...and I am not certain it is much better now. Love the pram in the first photo of adorable cousins.
ReplyDeleteLove, love that pram!
ReplyDelete