Health issues

Polio Epidemic 1948 

Over the summer of 1948 the authorities became worried about an epidemic of poliomyelitis which was invading the country. So during January it was decided that schools were to remain closed after the holidays and pupils were to learn by correspondence. 

So my fifth form year began with about eight weeks of staying at home and doing my schoolwork at home, and sending it in by mail, and receiving my assignments in return. 

We eventually started school late in the first term when it was considered safe to do so. But later, during term 2, the numbers affected rose alarmingly again, and we had to stay home and revert to correspondence lessons again for a couple more weeks.

 

So the only effect on me was a mixed-up school year. 

My teeth were by 1957 full of fillings. The policy of the mission at that time was that as dental care was difficult to get, and unreliable at the best of times, we were advised to have doubtful teeth removed before we left, and hope that the rest would last until our next leave. 

So I took the request to my dentist and it was decided that all but eight central lower teeth would come out. 

The operation was performed one afternoon, I think on a Thursday, and I had the Friday off (and the weekend without speaking engagements) to recover. The new false set were put in straight away and the gums left to heal underneath. 

I remember a considerable amount of pain, and living on aspirin for a day or two. 

Over subsequent years I had mixed success with having false teeth fitting in spite of changes to my jaws over time. 

Eventually in the late nineties I got a second opinion on the cost of a new set from my colleague at the hospital, Tony Waghorn, who quoted a markedly lower price than the commercial dentist, and made me the best set I have ever had, which at the time of writing still fit very well. 

One could expect when going to live in tropical countries in those days, that one would be subject to tropical diseases, like malaria, typhoid, cholera. In fact typhoid and cholera injections were routine every few months. 

However our arrival in India coincided with a WHO campaign to eradicate malaria by spraying all buildings with DDT up to windowsill level, which was the area mosquitoes inhabited. 

The DDT was effective in killing the mosquitoes, and the incidence of death through malaria dropped by 80% over those 5 years. I escaped without malaria.

The only illness I ever had in seven years was half a day in bed with an upset stomach after eating turtle curry one day for lunch! And that was in the last six months.