For further information
contact us at: 320-274-8489,
e-mail pioneerp@lakedalelink.net or fax
320-274-9612.
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Many of
these artifacts came from the offices of Dr. A.M.
Ridgeway and Dr. L.H. Bendix of Annandale. Dr.
Ridgeway practiced medicine in Annandale from 1890 until
the 1940s. Dr. Bendix joined him in 1929.
Both were highly respected and beloved men in the
community.
Before the
age of family cars, doctors made house call in their
buggies. If a patient was sick enough to need a
doctor, he was to ill to travel. The pioneer doctor
even did surgery in a patient's home if necessary.
(Note the case of surgical saws in the cabinet).
Babies were born at home -- sometimes with the
doctor assisting. Oftentimes, though, a neighbor or
even only husband would be there at the time of the
birth.
Some
diseases that are almost unheard of today were common and
life-threatening, such as diphtheria, scarlet fever, and
small pox. They were so contagious that a
"Quarantine" was posted and the family was isolated for
the duration of the illness. Even such maladies as
influenza, pneumonia, and measles could be fatal.
Better sanitation practices and post-WWII
antibiotics have enabled health care practitioners to
almost eliminate deaths due to these
illnesses.
19)
Doctor's Office
