Petersburg High School - Missile Yearbook (Petersburg, VA)

Page 29 text:

-vlbf PETERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL 10- A Vacation In a Sanatorium By Wilson Sykes DON'T know why, but it is true nevertheless, that most peo- ple place a certain stigma on the mere word tuberculosis No one can deny that it is a dangerous disease, but there is no reason why a sufferer of the malady should be looked down upon, as a great number of people are prone to do today. I have often heard people say that they would rather die than contract the disease, and I have heard several say that they would rather die than go to a sanatorium, even though they had contracted it. They took their choice- and died. Foolishness-and ignor- ance-that's all it is. About four years ago I suffered a physical breakdown, and it was feared that I had contracted tuberculosis. There were just as many negative as positive tests, but the doctor wasn't taking any chances, so he prescribed a rest cure at a well- known mountain sanatoriumf' My feelings were mixed at first -I couldn't see why it wasn't all right for me to stay at home. I had already been in bed three months and had shown great improvement-but orders were orders. I had to wait for several weeks after sending in my appli- cation, and in the meantime I began to look forward to the trip- to consider it as a sort of adventure-something entirely new. This attitude helped more than a little, although I didn't know it at the time. The first day at the sanatorium-shall I ever forget it? I was too sick to sit up. I had arrived at bedtime the night be- fore C8 P. MJ and to bed I went the first thing. I was on the children's pavilion, and one of the older boy patients welcomed me and helped me to get things straightened out. At that moment there was born a friendship that has lasted until this very day. Never had I found a bed so hard in all my life. The next morning I was sore all over and homesick-yes, homesick for the first and only time during my entire stay of six months! After two weeks in the emergency room fa room in which all new patients are isolated for two weeksl I quickly grew used to the routine of sanatorium life and even grew to like it-yes, I liked it, and I can even go farther and say that I never had such a good time in my whole life! After leaving the emergency room, I was placed on the boys' -27-.

Page 28 text:

-01 THE M1ssILE Yes, sir. It was my father'sg he was killed in a train Wreck in Germany years ago, answered Eric sadly. You say-what is you name ?-quick, man ! Frederic gasped out. Eric Ziesbourg, sir, the boy replied kindly. Eris-my son! Praise the Good Father. I am your 'Dad- dyl' cried Frederic. As recognition dawned swiftly on the face of Eric and a light of joy came into his eyes, he enfolded the trembling old frame of his father in his strong, young arms. The voice of the violin had brought the dead to life, and had found the lost. Imagination By Dorothy Baxter Thou, most Welcome guest, For once be ready to rest: From fair and flooded lands of laughter bent, Usurp my generous mind to thy content. I would with Fancy roam With Jollity to her home, To wander, delightfully dreaming at my leisure Of airy nothings and unreproved pleasure. Dreams are but interludes- The finger of Fancy intrudes To turn the pages of the Book of Life, Relieving the dullness-renewing strength for the strife. 6,0-'ifi fi , - V x , .26-

Page 30 text:

-vbbi THE MISSILE ward-there were no private rooms-with nineteen other boys. The entire south wall was open, except for the screen wire, and the whistling of the wind through it at night was music to my ears--music that lulls one to sleep, although it is mournful. The general program fand this was practically the same throughout the sanatoriuml was as follows: At 6:30 in the morning each patient was awakened and his temperature and pulse recorded. After this he washed and dressed in a steam- heated dressing room, where each boy had a locker for all his possessions. Bed-making came next. At seven o'clock they all assembled in the classroom with an equal number of girls whose ward was on the opposite end of the building and sepa- rated from the boys' by the classroom and nurses' quarters. Breakfast was at 7 230 in a separate building behind the Gar- ret, as ours was called. No one was allowed to speak at the table during meal time, except to the orderly, who waited on the table. To get around this restriction there was a deaf and dumb finger code. I had no need for it QI was too busy eating to use ith and was considered dumb because I didn't learn it. After breakfast a form of opening exercises was held, in which all took part. This was led by either one of the patients or the superintendent, who was also the schoolteacher. After this, one-half of those present went out on the uncov- ered porches, clothed only in white trunks, to take sun cure fthis was compulsory for children, but not for adultsj, while the other half attended school. We took sun cure, regardless of the tem- perature and it didn't matter whether there was snow on the ground or not--but when the clouds covered the sun we shivered and prayed for it to come out again. Most of us were brown as Indians after a month or two of this and almost as tough. After the first group had gotten their share, they traded places with the second. All patients were required to spend one hour in bed before dinner. They were allowed to read and also to talk, if they didn't get too noisy. As a rule they did. After dinner came quiet hour. Bed again-for two hours, and no one was allowed to speak a word. Reading was permitted. One hour of sun cure followed this. Afterwards, those whose weight was up to standard and whose temperature was normal were allowed a certain amount of exercise. One hour was the maximum amount, and was usually taken out in walking. Supper-leisure time-bedtime at 8 P. M.-the day was over. -28-