"POX"

Today I skimmed the book "POX" on search library overdrive. I was able to skim and jump to the part of anti-vaccinationist. This chapter takes place in the early turn of the 20th century. I recommend you read it. Dr. Immanuel Pfeiffer was an anti-vaccinationist who thought the vaccine poisonous. 

I heartily recommend people read this book. Laura Ingalls Wilder's family would have had to have dealt with this. Compulsory or voluntary vaccinations? 

Smallpox vaccinations are no longer required nationally for school age children. It's amazing how the pendulum swings back and forth. 

What has changed from 1902 to 2014? Hygiene awareness. In 1902 not everyone had running water or toilets. The result? People didn't take daily baths as the modern 21st century person would. When Laura was a child it was common for people to take a FULL bath once a week. The rest of the week spit shine baths were the norm. Today no one would put up with that in this society. Personal hygiene kits have changed as well. 

During Laura's time one soap was used for EVERYTHING; hand washing, face cleansing, bathing, shampooing, washing dishes. Today soap has become specialized. Dish washing detergent to wash the dishes. Shampoo to wash hair. Conditioner to help the hair out. A bar of soap to bathe with. Facial cleansing soap to help rid acne and toothpaste to brush your teeth. If you were using baking soda to wash at one point you used it to brush your teeth. 

What else changed? Mortality rate of infants and children. Mortality rate of birthing mothers. Life expectancy increased with better medicine.  Also WORKING TO THE BONE TO SURVIVE. 

On The Shores of Silver Lake

In this story I previously mentioned that Mary Ingalls is blind.  What I didn't mention was how recent it had been. The story opens with the family recuperating from Scarlet Fever. Mary is already blind. The family had her hair cut for medical/hygiene reasons. 

Happy new year

Happy New Year! Yesterday we went to the library. I was able to borrow the next by by #LIW #Wilder. #ONTHESHORESOFPLUMCREEK. I just started reading it. Very interesting facts about that time. As you can see I got caught up in tweeting. On The Shores Of Plum Creek.

1. First time the girls ride on a train.
2. Laura's amazed by the water and cup on the train.
3. The hotel where Pa picks them up has a rotating towel dispenser. That old, huh?
4. Jack, Laura's dog dies before they leave.
5. Laura sees the train engine separate and rotate on a Swivel track and attach itself to the other end of the train.
6. Mary is blind in this book. Laura promised to be her eyes.
7. Pa went ahead of the girls with Aunt Docia for a job that paid $50/mo.
8. Aunt Docia wasn't very happy with the results of the contract with railroad. They owed money to the railroad! And still Uncle Hi signs another contract! Give them strength!