Page 60 - Anne Blufarb's Second World War

ISSUE : Issue 72

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1997/6/1

them. The leeches. And we were the only ones in town who could keep them alive. Come the winter, the frost--you couldn't get any. And you know where we kept them? We kept them in our bed! In those big glass jars. With water. And we covered those leeches under a down (comforter) so they kept warm because the house--winters were very severe in Poland. And from time to time we'd take them out, a few times a week, I think; and my father would wash them. We used to help. We had a big (col- lander) --you know (what they had) in the DON'S FLOWERS Serving Port Hood, Judique, Inverness and Surrounding Areas p. 0. Box 179, Port Hawkesbury, N. S. BOE 2V0 Telephone 625-2215 or 625-2717 ''Business for People" new dawn enterprises ltd. Real Estate • Cape Breton Association for Housing Development Provides housing for low and low-middle income families • Pine Tree Park Estates Ltd. Located at former radar base, providing housing for seniors and families, as well as incubator space for small businesses Health Care • The New Dawn Guest Home A 30-bed residential facility providing quality care for seniors • Cape Care Services Ltd. A home care company providing personal and nursing services to people in their own home • Home Living Ltd. A program where families provide home care for up to three seniors Training, Education and Consulting • Highland Resources Ltd A registered trade school providing certification for personal care workers • Volunteer Resource Centre Coordinates the work of 300 community volunteers. Programs include Meals on Wheels, Each One Teach One and a visitation program for seniors • MISSION STATEMENT • New Dawn Enterprises Ltd is a community development corporation committed to establishing and operating locally-based ventures that contribute to the creation of a self-supporting community. Tel: 539-9560 • Fax:539-7210 old times to sift the flour--so we put the leeches in that. They were slimy in it. So we washed them out, rinsed them, and then we'd put in clean water. We'd throw out the dead leeches and put the live (ones) in the jar, bring them back to bed! He was very good with it, so he used to be called a lot to sick people. He always would (work with) the doctors. They would say exactly where to put the leech--you know, he had to know a special place to put the leech because if he didn't know it it could have cut a vein. (Leeches suck the blood, is that right?) They suck the blood, they suck the infection, they suck all the infected blood. Sometime if you had a blood clot--you had to know just ex? actly where to put it to suck that blood clot out. Now you have operations and oth? er ways of doing it, but so many years ago that's what they were using.... He was very known for doing that kind of work. And they called him not only in the city; they used to send for him from the small villag? es. The farmers used to send wagon and horses to bring him to the house, and they'd bring him back. And when they didn't have enough money they used to give him apples. In the wartime, it was more impor? tant to get food. They used to bring him all kinds of food from the farm--butter, eggs, milk, cheese. After? ward, for gratitude. After they paid, even.... There was a fellow there in the city and his wife couldn't walk. When she was walking a hot day I think she put her feet in cold water and whatever happened to her legs, the blood got --I don't know--it couldn't circulate well. And she went to every doctor you can think of. She went to the big cities and she was going just everywhere. Her husband was an importer and exporter of eggs, Ukrainian fellow--that's how I saved my life. So what happened, somebody told him, "What do you have to lose? Try leeches." So he came, and I went with my father to his house. He put leeches on her legs where the doctor made those marks. I don't 60

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