TB was a killer in the 30's, but it never occurred to me
that I had a terminal illness, because I didn't if taken
care of. I was in bed enjoying having meals brought
on a tray. Mother had a little nurse training herself,
and she always responded with pride in her
"professionalism" as a pretend nurse. I recieved real
hospital care at home. The time came to go to the
Sanatorium for hospital care. I went, and 6 months
passed quickly. I enjoyed the stay and the new friends
there. I was taught a lot about TB care for the return
home. Being a good TB patient was an odd game.
Bed rest was the main cure. Hours of rest were
scheduled. Complete rest during those hours had to
be developed by practice. Rest meant no radio,
visitors, or anything stimulating rapid heartbeat or
breathing faster. Flat on back, eyes covered, hands
at side. It was called "chasing the bug (or cure)."
With rest, lung cells could rebuild walls, sealing
active TB germs inside. Even after cured, a patient
could break down lung cells again by over activity.
There were sergical methods to resist lung activity
for very advanced cases. The theory was that
everyone had TB germs. Only some people broke
down with Tuberculosis. It was a disease waiting
to happen when conditions were right. When I
returned home from the Sanatorium to complete
my cure, it was the same routine as at the hospital.
2 hours "chasing the cure" in the morning: 3 hrs
in the afternoon; and early bedtime. At all other
times, patient was still in bed, but could sit up,
read, visit, bathe, etc. No activity otherwise. I missed
2yrs of school. Then I went back on a half day
schedule at school with rest in the afternoon at home.
I also went to summer school with same routine. All
the while, my plan developed to attend Sanatorium
nursing school after graduation. I made up a year
of lost work at summer school. I graduated May 1939
only one year late. At the Sanatorium, a nurse
graduate would be a specialized TB nurse. It was a
2yr course, not for RN. Student education consisted
of both classroom instruction and work as student
nurses with patients, being given increasing
responsibilities as they progressed. Many hospitals,
county homes for the aged, and state hospitals had
isolated sections for TB patients. Former patients as
nurses were not afraid of the disease. The general
public was afraid of TB. But it was a career destined
for a short life. I went to Sanatorium for training in
June 1939. I'm now glad I had TB, or I would have
not met my husband, and employee in the food
department there. He was a former patient as most
employees were. His disease had been more advanced
than mine. After his time at the "San" as a patient, he
spent a couple of years or more of rest cure in a tent
behind the family home on the farm isolated from
the family for his good and their protection. Sanatorium
was a good place for former "lungers" to work, because
health was a priority. Every afternoon the place shut
down for rest period. Everyone went to bed. Can you
imagine such a thing? Free medical service was
provided also. Yvettah Queen--