Author: E.Y. Redal

Health Care in the Thirty’s

There is so much talk about Obama Care these days and much of it is scary. I hope none of the things they are saying will come true but I am sure some of it will. For instance, I believe the cost will go up and there will be taxes. I imagine there will be more doctors quitting and going into some other line of work and that will mean it will be more difficult for us to get an appointment.

I don’t know when health insurance began but I am sure that it began when the costs went up! I’m positive we didn’t have health insurance when my first two kids were born because I have the bill. One was for $20.00 and the other was for $40.00. Those were both hospital bills and I don’t remember the doctor bill was much higher.

I remember the thirty’s quite well. Doc Wiltrout came to our house every time someone fell down or was sick. It felt comfortable just having him come in the door. When he had finished taking our temps and patting us on our heads he’d take the change in Daddy’s pocket and leave. If it was something quite serious he’d drive us to the hospital 16 miles away. I,d say most of the small town doctors did their work similar to Doc. Wiltrout. One time he even set the leg of our dog, Firdinand! And I know his wife fried a lot of chicken because he was often paid in chickens!

The doctor’s advise given in the 20th century was written up in a paper called Vivilore. Here is some of the advise:To remedy cold feet and hands you must eat more starch and it is recommended to eat this with sugar or honey. Ice water should be avoided because it causes the mucous membrane of the stomach to become temporarily pale and bloodless.Baldness is caused by sickness, worry, excessive study and free exercise of passion. Treatment of it is rubbing the scalp until it is red, then add an onion cut in two and rubbed over the scalp morning and night. to determine the sex of your offspring you must count on the sex of the older or younger parent to be transmitted.

While these remedies seem strange and funny today, at least you didn’t have to worry about costs etc.My guess is that we should all get into the habit of eating an apple every day because it has been long known that an apple a day keeps the doctor away!

Moms Are Moms

My daughter is a single mom with two daughters,ages 10 to 13. She teaches music at an elementary school working about 9 hours every day, plus the things she has to do for her classes at home.She has to drive her oldest girl to her school each day and her daughter is involved in many activities, basketball, track and band being three of them. Mom takes her to these activities. Her youngest daughter is involved in gymnastics so that calls for a trip every wednesday evening. The girls are both members of 4H which means another trip with both girls and their dogs every monday evening. And Mom herself is on a worship team at her church which means a practice every once in awhile, plus she is a runner, involving practice runs and marathons. Doesn’t that make you tired just reading that? But her girls are growing up to be wonderful women who know right from wrong and are polite to everyone.

My two neighbors are working moms too. Granted, they both have husbands but they are working also. I’ve watched their children because they play outdoors instead of with televisions or video games. These kids are nice to everyone including an old woman like me. Their moms have taken the time to train up their children.

In the “olden” days mom stayed home with the children. It was expected,but living was harder in those days. It took all day to wash clothes and baking day was just as bad. Cleaning the house took a lot of time and effort too. Their kids turned out okay too.

I think the war between women, or is it just the media, should end. The moms who take the time to really raise their children, teaching them right from wrong and letting them know they are loved will help them grow up that way. These kids will be good parents one day. It really doesn’t matter whether a mom works or not, she is still a mom and that is what matters most isn’t it? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all moms would be like those who take the time to really train their kids?