Sometimes we should look to our past to appreciate the now and aim for the future Enjoying a quiet time in the Northampton General Hospital Museum and Archive the other day, I found myself drawn to The Quiver, a book sitting next to an old hospital bible.
The Quiver (1861-1956) was a weekly penny magazine (or sixpenny monthly edition), published by Cassell’s and designed to provide Sunday reading for the family.
This book is a bound copy of these illustrated magazines printed in 1893.
Idly turning the pages, I came upon an article titled ‘Good Cheer for Sick Folk, A Hospital Address by A.
L.
Somerville’.
It opened by saying that in general conversation one subject that everyone is interested in is that of sickness and suffering.
To be told that someone else suffers more than yourself reminds us how lucky we might be.
Somerville then proceeded to give examples of some medical treatments he had heard of that were practised in less fortunate countries.
In Egypt, if a person complained of a sore throat, the remedy was to burn the area with a hot iron.
Sore eyes would be treated with a hot iron applied to the face and stomach pain with application to the affected region.
Among the wandering tribes of Northern Indians, anyone becoming too ill to travel is left behind.
His companions would cover him with deerskins, light a fire, leave food and water behind and tell him in which direction they were travelling.
If he didn’t die of disease, then he would probably perish of hunger and thirst.
In the South Pacific Islands the only remedy to heal a sick person was to kill a neighbour.
If this didn’t work more neighbours would suffer the same fate.
Central Africa: Dr Livingstone mentioned in his journal that the treatment for a broken leg was to dig a large hole, the injured person placed in it and earth poured in up to his waist.
A large fire would then be lit over the leg….
which would roast the patient but do little to set the broken bone.
On reflection, I think we should all be thankful for the treatments given by the NHS today!
Julia Corps (Volunteer at NGH Museum and Archive)