DISEASES
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MALARIA-- WAS CONSTANTLY DEPLETING
THE ENERGY OF PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CARRIED THIS
DISEASE THAT WAS CARRIED BY MOSQUITOES, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE LIVING IN THE
LOWLANDS.
WHEN BITE PEOPLE WOULD COME DOWN
WITH A SHAKING CHILL, ACCOMPANIED BY A HIGH FEVER. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS THE
FEVER WAS SWEATED OFF, AND THE PATIENT FELT BETTER UNTIL THE NEXT DAY WHEN
THE CHILL WOULD HIT AGAIN THE CYCLE COULD BE EVERY OTHER DAY.
NO SPRAYS WERE AVAILABLE TO
PROTECT AGAINST MOSQUITOES. PEOPLE SPREAD MOSQUITO NETS OVER THE HIGH FOUR
POSTER BEDS TO HELP PROTECT AGAINST BEING BITTEN.
PEOPLE WOULD RUB TURPENTINE OR
KEROSENE ON THEIR BODIES TO SLOW DOWN THE MOSQUITOES.
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TYPHOID FEVER (SLOW FEVER)-- WAS
ANOTHER DISEASE THAT TOOK ITS TOLL AMONG WEBSTER CO RESIDENTS. DOCTORS
KNEW VERY LITTLE TO DO FOR THIS MALADY EXCEPT WAIT ADN SEE WHAT THE
RESULTS MIGHT BE DEATH OR SURVIVAL. MANY PEOPLE IN THE MANTEE AREA
DIED OF THIS DISEASE BEFORE A CURE WAS FOUND.
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PNEUMONIA-- WAS ANOTHER GRIM REAPER
AMONG RESIDENTS OF WEBSTER CO MS. THE HOME REMEDY FOR PNEUMONIA WAS
MADE BY MIXING TURPENTINE, LARD AND HEALING OIL AND SMEARING THE
CONCOCTION ON A FLANNEL CLOTH, HOLDING IT CLOSE TO THE FIRE IN THE
FIREPLACE UNTIL IT WAS HOT. THEN PLACING IT ON THE CHEST.
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COMMUNICABLE DISEASES---
MEASLES, WHOOPING COUGH, MUMPS AND SMALL POX MADE ROUND EVERY FEW YEARS.
MEASLES-- OCCURRED IN EPIDEMICS
AFFLICTING THOSE WHO HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY HAD THIS DISEASE. THERE WAS A TEA
MADE FROM CHICKEN MANURE BEING GIVEN TO PATIENTS TO MAKE THE MEASLES BREAK
OUT. WHISKEY WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED TO MAKE THE MEASLES BREAK OUT AND
TO SWEAT.
WHOOPING COUGH -- WAS VERY OFTEN
CAUGHT AT SCHOOL, AND IT WOULD SPREAD THROUGH THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
REMEDY WAS MILKING A MARE AND THEN GIVING THE MILK TO THE CHILDREN.
ITCH (SEVEN YEAR ITCH)--- IN THE OLD
DAYS MANY ONLY TOOK A BATH ONCE A WEEK ON SATURDAY NIGHT IN A WASH TUB OR
BIG PAN. THIS HYGIENE PROBLEM CONTRIBUTED TO CATCHING THIS SKIN DISEASE.
SULFUR AND GREASE WAS USED TO TREAT THIS DISEASE.
RISINGS -- WERE VERY COMMON. THIS
WAS A RUNNING SORE WITH DEEP SEATED CORE. IF LARGE IT WOULD LEAVE A SCAR.
FOLK REMEDY FOR THESE SORES WAS TAKING A THINK SLICE OF VERY FAT HOG MEAT
AND PLACING IT OVER THE BOIL. USING A WHITE CLOTH TO HOLD IT IN PLACE.
ANOTHER WAS TO TAKE SULPHUR AND HONEY TO PURIFY THE BLOOD.
