Whatever sniffles and coughs come our way, Lord knows it’s not as bad as some of the deadly bugs that have plagued humanity since time immemorial, such as smallpox. Speaking of which, did you know there is a local hero in North Worcester County who probably saved hundreds of lives from this dread disease?
Among the events worth celebrating in our country’s 250th year will be a local hero: Dr. Thaddeus Maccarty, Fitchburg’s first physician. This brave soul was appalled by the death toll of small pox — but intrigued by what was called “the Sutton method.” This practice meant inoculating the patient with the disease, and Dr. Maccarty travelled to a Great Barrington hospital and presented himself as both patient and doctor.
He survived the disease, and returned to Fitchburg. There, a fearful populace was ready to tar and feather the young clinician, but fortunately, Dr. MacCarty was able to meet with Deacon Ebenezer Goodridge, a member of the “Committee of Safety.” According to Doris Kirkpatrick’s masterful “The City and the River,” because of MacCarty’s ability to explain the brand new idea of inoculation, and his “open and fearless frankness the doctor succeeded in quieting the Deacon’s suspicion and avoided a coat of tar.”
By August 15, 1776, Fitchburg built a hospital for the care of people suffering from small pox and this hospital continued for several years and built a strong reputation. More than 800 residents from all the area towns came to the hospital where they were charged one pound, one shilling, or 10 days labor, or 10 bushels of corn for treatment.
This was a hospital with security — there was a guard at the gate who made sure no one entered without paying, and no one left without a “certificate of cleanliness.” The full treatment ended with the patient receiving a bath in a solution of rum and vinegar.
‘There’s a cure for that’
For most of human history, getting from zero to age two was a struggle, but it was only until 1802, and the Paris-based Hôpital des Enfants Malades, was there a hospital designed exclusively for children. The Brits soon followed suit, and the famous Great Ormond Street Hospital opened in London in 1855, the same year as Philadelphia’s “Children’s Hospital” opened in the US, the first in our country to do so.
Children’s hospitals emerged out of volunteers’ efforts and were independent from other hospitals. If you were a member of the “undeserving poor,” you’d end up in a workhouse infirmary. Locally, Fitchburg’s beloved Burbank Hospital opened in 1901 with 16 beds atop Prospect Hill in the site known as Nichols Farm. By 1912, there was a children’s ward on-site. The tradition for hospitals treating children was to admit those with short-term, rather than long-term illness, for fear of contagion. Records do not reveal ingredients or medicines used for children at the hospital. However, during the late 19th century, the patent-medicine world was forever expanding.
A particularly noxious product became infamous: “Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup.” Touted as a medicine to help soothe an infant during teething pain, the bottle contained alcohol and morphine (unlabelled) and caused many infant deaths. The Prohibitionists took up these “medicines” and public protest created a fertile ground for legislation.
Local suggestions
Family Recipe Box put out the call across North Worcester County and the suggestions poured in: hint, if you don’t have lemons and honey in your pantry, consider yourself understocked.
For sore throats: Several readers suggested: gargle frequently with salt water, as much salt as you can stand, as hot as you can stand.
For ear aches: From Leominster, Donna Dap suggested “Put on a hat — your body heat is soothing,” while Rachel Rhada swears by putting garlic oil in your ears as it “works every time!”
For random ailments: Cramps — a heating pad, or soaking towels in hot water and laying over abdomen. Rachel Armington suggests: “for headaches or eyestrain: a few drops of peppermint oil on a folded tea towel that’s been run under warm/hot water and wrung damp. Just hold over the area until the towel cools.”
For “the bug that’s going around”: Barb Boraski Vosburgh of Fitchburg urges all readers to consume “homemade chicken soup. My grandma, my mom, me, and now my daughter believes it is the best for colds, flu, etc.”
Bring on the honey
Rum has been the basis for curatives for centuries (and not just bathing in it). So has honey. But it’s the exotic spices that draw interest in the world of Ayurvedic and Holistic healing. Finally, after two weeks, I became higher functioning after the “back to school bug.” And so I decided to crank up my anti-oxidant and Vitamin C game. Couldn’t hurt, right?
I did some experimenting, and came up with the following — this recipe makes enough to last in the fridge for about a week — and I’ve been drinking this every day for the past two weeks. And washing my hands — a lot!
G & T Shot
INGREDIENTS:
2 tsp ground ginger powder
2 tsp ground turmeric powder
1 tsp Fresh ground black pepper
1/3 cup honey
Juice of one lemon
DIRECTIONS:
Put a couple teaspoons of honey into your storage jar (I like a one-cup jam jar). Mix in your spices until you have a thick syrup. Add the lemon juice and honey, mix thoroughly. It’s really thick, and I used a small milk-frother. Store in the refrigerator, add 2 teaspoons of syrup into a cup, and pour in water that’s hot, but not hot enough for tea. This brings out the aroma. You can drink this hot, or let it cool.
Notes: I like to make the Shot hot, but then let it cool in an Atlas jar, and then put the lid on and refrigerate. When it’s cold, shake it up vigorously — that’s your “G & T Shot.” Happy healing!
Sally Cragin would love to read your family recipes and stories. Write to: sallycragin@gmail.com
Sally Cragin
Source link