Medical memories from days gone by
Compiled by Joan Janzen
Anyone who works in the medical field may find this interesting. It’s an excerpt taken from ‘Pages of the Past’ published by the Leader Lioness Club. The article entitled “Memories of a Country Hospital” was submitted by Kay Blott, a long-time resident of Leader who passed away in February 2012 at the age of 95.
I joined the staff of the Leader Town Hospital in September of 1938 after answering an ad in the Regina Leader-Post. Nursing positions were at a premium, and I counted myself lucky to be accepted. The depression was still on, people couldn’t afford doctors, and hospital care and aids were few and far between. In a year and a half hence, World War II would be raging, and hospitals were clamouring for nurses as they, the nurses, were joining the armed forces.
I arrived in Leader after a day long trip by train, very hungry. (I had actually expected to find a diner on the train from Swift Current to Leader). I had another pipe dream that there would be a “taxi” to take me to the hospital - surely! I was met by Mabel Kasper (Wenzel) and Norma McKenzie as a welcoming committee and Jake Krentz to carry my luggage. I had never lived in a small town, and much to my dismay, the hospital was a large old house.
I was interviewed on the spot by Dr. Levson and the matron. Then I had the “grand tour.” The maternity ward and nursery was a former pantry, the operating room at the head of a flight of stairs, no running water, no flush toilets, a handful of surgical instruments, and a monster of a coal furnace. I was to be on continuous night duty, and feeding the monster of a furnace was one of my chores at night. I was to give anesthetics and assist at surgery. My total monthly salary being $35.00.
We ate in the kitchen, and one could watch the patient in the case room between bites of food. The doctor scrubbed for surgery in enamel washbasins. We hung the laundry at night, so we would have enough dry clothes for the next day. I wanted to leave immediately, but my pride and pocketbook decided against that, and I stayed. My room was next door to the operating room - sleep was impossible while surgery was going on. Usually, I gave anesthetics until nearly noon.
After surgery and maternity, patients were required to stay in bed for at least seven days. Oh, those bed baths! Which had to be given before the day staff came on duty (that staff consisted of the matron) who had to cope all day while I was on continuous nights.
That fall, there was an army of mice that invaded the hospital. I spent any spare time I had during the nights setting and emptying the traps.
Later in the year, a classmate of mine, Viola Ormiston, joined the staff. Now there were two nurses on days and one at night. Sometimes we cared for over 30 patients.
It was a marvellous experience, and I learned the hard way that a hospital could give good service with minimal equipment. There were never to be forgotten experiences, and the same kind of friendships formed. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sargeant (Thirza) were like parents to me, and one could go to their home, day or night, and always be welcome.
Antibiotics were being administered now, and some of them had very bad side effects.
I nursed in all three hospitals in Leader, my last case when my daughter Marilyn and I treated the same patient, Mrs. Mike Baron, and I obtained a certain satisfaction out of that. In all those years I have never changed my opinion - small-town hospitals are the best.
L-R: Mabel Kasper, Norma McKenzie, Violet Ormiston R.N., A.M. Rosman (Matron), and Hilsden R.N.
