Page 14 - 2007 DT 12 Issues

February Frontier Medicine, continued from p.1 other unhealthy critters. Children were
particularly vulnerable to diseases
D e s k S c h e d u l e by barter and services since cash was like scarlet fever, measles, croup and
not always available. Cash was more whooping cough.
Thurs/1 V. Sperry J. Barrett likely when a doctor was resident in Despite all the grim aspects of
F. Davis a town of reasonable size, and by the illness in the Old West, there was an
Fri/2 D./V. Wray D./V. Wray standards of the day, they did quite upside. Natural treatments, so many
borrowed from Indian tribes, often
well. You might pay $2 for treatment
Sat/3 W. Barbuck W. Barbuck of a bullet wound that went clean worked. Herbal teas were very com-
P. Gertis through and $5 if it had to be pulled. mon. The air was fresh, people were
An operation could run up to $25, but generally lean and tough, self-reliant
Sun/4 OPEN C. McLaughlin if it was a simple lancing of a
Mon/5 S. Stenzel R./M. Augulis carbuncle, less than $1. "Mile-
Tues/6 C. Camburn P. Kepner age" was also charged, often
costing more than the medical
Wed/7 L. Mills P. Olsen treatment. At, say, 25 to 50 cents
Thurs/8 G. Wojciechowski J. Barrett a mile, it added up quickly.
Since calling a doctor could
J. Frank F. Davis be impractical, unaffordable or
Fri/9 I. Hyman R. Linsmeier impossible, it fell to the woman
Sat/10 P. VanDooremaal C. McLaughlin to take care of the sick. She

Sun/11 L. Eaton L. Eaton could only do her best—and it
might be good. Edith Wheeler
Mon/12 S. Stenzel T./N. Hughes of Texas recalled her treatment Chicolte Family, sod hut dugout, 1892
Tues/13 M. Slagle P. Kepner of Uncle Rufe who had a growth on his
face. Her mother had told her that oint- (they had to be); vegetables were
Wed/14 V. Sperry D. Schoengold ment made from a weed called sheep grown without artificial fertilizers;
Thurs/15 R. Kinn J. Barrett sorrel would remove warts. Edith said, pollution, as we know it today, did
F. Davis "To make the medicine extra strong, not exist; the stress of competing in a
I mixed in gunpowder. Uncle Rufe time-dominated environment was ab-
Fri/16 P. Olsen D. Schoengold said it burned 'worse than hell,' but sent; children played outdoors instead
Sat/17 J. Kisosondi R. Linsmeier the growth just ‘slid off his face.’" of sitting in front of a computer for
Just a story? Maybe, but you had to hours; and there was a strong sense of
Sun/18 OPEN L./M. Utah
improvise a good part of the time. The community. Perhaps above all, frontier
Mon/19 R. Kinn D. Powers burden was truly enormous from every men and women lived where the gran-
Tues/20 M. Slagle P. Kepner standpoint; modern sanitary standards deur and beauty of nature remained
were unknown. The sod huts and log unspoiled. Life might be harsh, but
Wed/21 V. Sperry D. Schoengold cabins were dark and damp, commonly there was a spirit of adventure, the
Thurs/22 G. Wojciechowski J. Barrett with dirt floors; in short, an ideal expectation of a better life and a sense
F. Davis breeding ground for germs, fleas and of destiny . . . just don't get sick. 

Fri/23 I. Hyman R. Conductor
News & Notes, continued from p.3.
Sat/24 J. Sacks C. McLaughlin
Orientation and Training register. Choose either of these dates
Sun/25 B. Saperstein L./M. Utah
Volunteer orientation and training ses- and locations:
Mon/26 T./N. Hughes J. Geier sions are offered to all active volunteers.  Wednesday, Feb. 7, Lake Mead National
Tues/27 OPEN J. Geier Please visit www.getoutdoorsnevada. Recreation Area, near Boulder City.
org to view two interagency orientation  Saturday, Feb. 10, Las Vegas Field
Wed/28 P. Gertis D. Powers sessions that are posted on the website Office, near Torrey Pines and Rancho.
and open for registration. You may also Sessions run from 9 a.m. to 3
Changes? Call Kate at 515-5350 call Tyra Jenkins at 702-895-5734 to p.m. Lunch is provided.
Page 6 FORRC/February/2007