Cape Breton's Magazine

these people lined up in beds for years and years and years. Until finally--some of them got better--most of them died. (How dangerous was it for a nurse to be dealing with these people?) It was pretty bad. And nothing was done. When I went in training, the government had said that they were going to start an anti-TB pro? gram. And they ordered that every nurse, when she came in, should have an x-ray, and then one yearly after that.... In that class, we had three that died of tubercu? losis- -that one class, of twelve. And I used to go in with this Miss Mac? Leod, and they'd call me in the middle of the night, "I've taken another chill." And we'd be in that old nurses' residence. And I'd get in bed with her. we'd get the hot- water bottles. And I remember one night I fell down the steps, in the middle of the night--bump bump bump bump bump! Up trying to get hot water for Ada's hot-water bot? tles. And as Myrtle came out--Myrtle Mac? Millan, we called her--youth is always the same, isn't it? We'd call her Myrtle. And she (whispers). "What are you doing?" "I'm getting the hot-water bottle for Miss Mac- |Leod." So she came in, and she realized that she was a sick, sick girl. Because she was having night sweats and night tem? peratures . And she spent-- "K Mariner Harduxtre aoBB Bike & Canoe Rentals yisA RV & Camping Supplies For reservations: Phone (902) 733-2252 Fax (902) 733-3001 gosh, how many years?--twelve years in the San (sanitarium). And yet I was doing that every night, and putting my arms around her, trying to get her warm. And yet I had strength enough to fight that. Isn't it funny? So, it's a peculiar disease. (Well, you don't give a very encouraging picture for being a nurse.) Laughs. (And yet all you say is you loved it.) Yeah. (You stayed on with it.) M-hm. (And you wanted to go into teaching and stay with it.) Yeah. And improve it. And improve it. Still can be improved a great deal. I feel very strongly that way. I think that nurs? ing is--nurses are the dog's body of hos? pitals. You know what I mean by that. (I sure would like to hear what you mean by that.) That they are the ones that, of course, give the nursing care to patients. And, usually, they have no say in what their treatment should be. That is told them by somebody up higher--meaning, the doctor. And he may not know what's going on. You may even try to tell him what is going on. And you will be told, "Mind your own business. This is not your concern. I'm the doctor here. I'll tell you what you're to do." But on the other hand, when things go wrong, "Why wasn't I told about this?" That happens too often. Doesn't happen as much as it used to. But that was the old conception.... The policy of the hospital, which is a law unto itself, will tell you you're to do such-and-such. The doctor will say, "No! I'm the boss here. You do it." And I don't know of any other profession that that the Take Route 22 Out of Sydney to World of Louisbourg Doll Museum of Over 1900 Dolls Antique to Modern Dolls, Bears, Toys & Furniture * We Feature The Louishourg Doll * Handcrafted Puffins and a Large Selection of Local Crafted Gifts and Dolls MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED OPEN MAY 15 TILL OCTOBER 15 Louisbourg i 7555 Main street 'House of Dolls Louisbourg We Welcome All Visitors: Come in & Browse Around • BED & BREAKFAST A large tum-of-the-century home to welcome you, overlooking Louisbourg Harbour and the Fortress. We are open year round & feature a full breakfast with "extras." (902)733-3155 1 Coastal Inn Louisbourg (Louisbourg Motel) ( • 45 Units • Guaranteed Hates • Fleur-de-Lis Dtxiliig Room • Jake's Lounge • Colour Cable T.V. Major Credit Cards Accepted 1225 MAIN STREET, LOUISBOURG (902) 733-2844 **Only 1 Mile from Fortress Louisbourg** Louisbourg Pharmacy • A Local Pharmacy Serving Your Needs • Providing complete drug store needs, including: Prescription Service 4'"'' Health & Beauty Aids Greeting Cards V"'/ ''''' '' Supplies Baby Supplies ' ' <' Sundries Mon to Wed: 9 AM to 6 PM f Saturday: Thur & Fri: 9 AM to 8 PM L J 9 AM to 5 PM 1360 Mam Street • Louisbourg 733-2160 c lOn Saturday, prescriptions' filled up to 1 p.m. ONLY J Sanjiv Maindiratta, pharmacist From the Old Town