More Info →Foxton Maternity Home 1942-1982 Page 37

Description

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it properly!"

I had to stoop down to paint an Unna's paste bandage onto a lady's leg to treat varicose ulcers, and groaned and creaked on rising. I said, "I think I'm getting old!" With a very sweet smile she replied, "No doctor, you're not getting old...you've got old!" As she was much more experienced on the matter, I did not argue.

A young man came to Foxton to recuperate after an injury. I asked the name of his doctor, and as it was a name I did not recognise, I suggested he was a young doctor. The young man replied, "Gosh no, hell no, he's pretty old, he's about 40." I was myself 40 at the time, and the 'young' fellow was 28, with only 12 years to go before he was equally decrepit.

I asked a young man, who had been a few years in the town, whether he ever had a hankering to go back to England. He snarled back, "Why the hell would I go back to England, I came from Scotland."

I supposed he could find ways of getting back without touching English soil.

(If you think a non-de-plume is advisable, try Annandale - there could be one or two who know it!)

Grateful thanks to dear Doctor Malthus, for his entertaining contribution!

A Much Needed Rest For The Doctors.

After giving delivery, the doctors would generally have a cup of tea, (and maybe a cigarette...) and a read of the morning paper, in the matron's flat. This was a time to unwind, rest, and wait around in case of any complications with mothers or new-born babies. And it was often the doctors' only chance for an uninterrupted break.

Cigarettes were always kept in the staff sitting room, on the ledge above the window for emergency times, in case the doctor (who smoked) forgot his own in the rush to leave home.

Doctor Teppett, many, many times, day or night, would drive patients in possible trouble, to Palmerston North Hospital in his own vehicle at a great pace! - with a nursing Sister on board, her eyes agog and praying hard, while driving through red lights! - hair-raising stuff! Doctor Teppett had a magnetic revolving light which he quickly placed onto the roof of his car, and this enabled him to zoom through to the hospital with a right-of- way!

The nursing staff travelling with Doctor Teppett on these occasions, were not aware of the flashing light for a good while. They were generally tending to the patient!

Doctor Teppett always did his utmost for the sake of his patients. Palmerston North Hospital staff soon became used to his heavy fast foot steps along the passageway in the theatre block, as he strode to see to his patients.
lady of the ).

In the Foxton Maternity Home's Theatre, because the theatre bed was high, (and fairly

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Identification

Date

2005