Subject: Re: Waiting for the Doctor |
Author: Tom
| [ Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: Sunday, October 31, 2010, 11:16: am
In reply to:
Becky
's message, "Waiting for the Doctor" on Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 08:04: pm
I remember the time when there was such a thing as a "House Call".When,I or one of my brothers or sister was sick,the procedure was always the same.Mom would come into the room with a jar of petroleum jelly and her reliable rectal thermometer."Turn over and lift up" she would order and our pajama bottoms and underpants would come down together.The air felt cool on my exposed bottom.I would watch mom shake down and then smear the bulb with a blob of the white jelly.Moments later,Mom's fingers parted my buttocks and the thermometer was slowly inserted.It always felt extra cold with a high fever.My bottom tingled as we waited for the thermometer to register.Mom had a habit of "adjusting and twirling" the thermometer as she waited.When it was finally removed and read,Mom would announce "You have a fever.Stay under the covers while I call the doctor." Mom would dial the doctor."Hello doctor,Tommy has a rectal temp of 101.2-can you come over and look at him?-Thank you -I'll keep him covered up." Mom would hang up and tell me the doctor was on his way.
Once the doctor arrived,he was led upstairs to my bedroom.The doctor would put his bag down and ask my mother to "Take his temperature" and she would sit down on the bed next to me and insert the rectal thermometer once again.The doctor would question my mother this time while the thermometer was inserted,about my symptoms,bowel movements and if I was eating or not.This time the doctor bent over and removed and read the thermometer.My throat was checked and my heart listened to."He has a sore throat" the doctor would say as he prepared a penicillin shot for me.My butt would be injected and my pajamas pulled up.The doctor would ask about the "other kids" and Mom would march them in to "Get looked at".Sometimes this meant nothing more then a look at their throat.Other times it meant a rectal temp,if the child was "acting up" and probably coming down with something according to mom.The unhappy child would find themselves with a rectal thermometer up their bottom for a long three minutes"just to be on the safe side."
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
] |
|