Nobody wants to have their tonsils removed. No kid, either. It was a trope of 80's and 90's prime-time sitcoms that someone had to have their tonsils out, panicked, and escaped, only to be brought back by force or by a familial talking-to.
Now imagine you had to have your tonsils out nearly 100 years ago. This was apparently an issue big enough that Euclid had a tonsil and adenoid removal "party" at the high school.
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| Oh. this is fine. |
"Fifty sets of obstreperous tonsils were laid upon the altar of health yesterday, and the occasion made A holiday for Euclid village.
Today forty more sets of tonsils and an assortment of adenoids are due to come out.
And for the tonsil and adenoid party. one of the largest ever held In this part of the country, Shore High school became an emergency hospital, with four physicians operating, with a dozen or more nurses on the job, with two hospital wards fitted up with cots donated by the American Legion, and with two-score anxious mothers pacing the corridors.
Two or three of the mothers found the emotional strain too much for them and themselves became patients for the nurses."
Fifty sets of tonsils yesterday, another 40 on the chopping block. That's a lot of sore throats.
"Health Center Entertain
The party was organized by the Euclid Health Center, of which Mrs. Norma Weiler, a graduate nurse, is president. The center is supported by the Shore, Roosevelt, Noble and Euclid Community Clubs.
The center maintains a clinic on Lake Shore boulevard where medical and dental service is given to school children. Every child whose backward school work may be traced to diseased tonsils is rounded up with the consent of parents, for the annual tonsil party.
The school kitchen served as operating room. The odor of ether floated out into the hall, where sat a long line of youngsters waiting their turns, in nighties and bathrobes.
Members of the community clubs nursed and cooked, mixed cooling drinks and kept ice bags filled. Messengers arrived with fresh stocks of ether and surgical supplies.
Parents of the young patients paid from $2 to $12 each for the operations, but this doesn't cover the cost, according to Mrs. Weiler."
I've never known a child whose poor schoolwork was tied to bad tonsils. I think these kids were just being little jerks and had to pay for it with a $2 to $12 operation in a high school. Which is actually kind of hilarious.
Fathom the anxiety of sitting in the hallway of Shore high school amongst your peers, in your nighties and bathrobes, while you smell ether and wait. And wait.
"Dance for Tonsils
"The community clubs gave dances and parties last winter to finance the tonsil party." Mrs. Weiler said.
Members of the clubs, all registered nurses, who volunteered their services were:
Mrs. Lucy Matthews, Mrs. Paul Crampton, Mrs. George Stamburger, Mrs. F. G. Kotler, Mrs. Weiler and Mrs. Irma Hart. Mrs. Hart also is the public school nurse.
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| Mrs. Irma Hart |
They were assisted by Miss Helen Gallagher, Miss E. M. Brune, Miss M. Bengasser, Miss A. MacQuinie, Miss L. Quithell, Miss Marian Pierce and Miss Estelle Madden, county health nurses.
Physicians who served were Dr. R. J. Shale, Dr. L. F. Hall, Dr. Theron Jackson and Dr. Robert Lockhart, county health officer. They were assisted by George Gressle, a senior medical student.
Most of the patients went home last night, but a few had to spend the night in the school house. Special nurses were summoned to stay with them."
It's casually mentioned that this was an annual event, so it must have been for children all over the area. What a unique experience, to get medical professionals and dozens patients in one place that isn't traditionally a medical setting and get them fixed up efficiently.
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