Seward daily gateway., 1923-09-29


 three months to the westward, looking after conditions within the scope of her activities, returned on the Starr and makes the following report of aid and cases alleviated.
 Surgery in the AIeutian Islands
 In July I received the following ra- dio:
 Capt. R. R. Lukens, U. s. s. Pio- neer, Coast and Geodetic Survey will be in Unalaska when the next mail boat arrives. His surgeon, Dr. Fred P. Nevius, will operate tonsil cases. Can you come?"
 My reply, Coming on August Star" was sent immediately.
 To one accustomed to doing public health nursing in community where there are doctors, hospitals, dispen- saries, clinics and nurses a sudden transfer to district lacking all these is rather upsetting and a bit discour- aging at times.
 To nurse used to city and oo1nty nursing where there is street car or auto transportation and where fl is possible to reach home every night it is somewhat of an adventure to charter gas boat to make a call, or to travel by steamer for week be- fore reaching ones destination.
 For ten months I had travelled on the Steamer Starr, visiting villages, calling in the homes of the people, trying to learn their medical needs, and doing any public health nursing that was possible under the condi- tions.
 The month of June had been spent ir Unalaska. While I was there Dr. J. R. Graf, of the U. s. s. Algonquin of the revenue cutter service, examine the boys and girls in the Jessie Lee Home, Methodist Orphanage. Twen- ty five of the children were in need of tonsilectomy, but Dr. Graf had instruments with him. We planned to do the operations next year when tr- Algonquin would return from the States, but through Mrs Goss, who has been interested in the Home for years, the cooperation of Capt. Lux ems and Dr. Nevius was secured.
 On our arrival in Unalaska we were met, as usual by practically the en. tire population, for the comEg month ly mail boat is an event in every vii lage to the westward.
 We hurried to the Jessie Lee Home to prepare for the first free tonsil clinic ever held in Alaska. Dr. Nevius examined the children and gave or ders for their preparation.
 During my June visit I had conduct ed classes in home hygiene and care of the sick and first aid; the boys and girls who had been members of the classes were eager to help. A satis factory schedule was arranged allow ing for the care of the younger child ren first This gave the older ones a chance to be on duty until the day they were to have their tonsils re- moved. By three o'clock we had transformed the Home office into an operating room and the parlor into a ward of six beds; our supplies were ready and every one knew his or her duties for the week
 The next morning we began operat- ing about eight o'clock-Dr. Graf starting the ether with the mask and MT. Murphy, pharmacists mate, con- tinuing the anesthetic with a nasal outfit improvised by Dr. Nevius. Six children were operated each day for four days; there were no accidents; the team work was like a well-oiled machine.
 When we left for False Pass a week later, nearly everyone of the conva- lescents was on the wharf to wave us goodbye. At False Pass the superin- tendent of the P E. Harris cannery gave us the use of his new four room cabin, which was easily turned into a cottage hospital. Three cases of ton sils were operated the day the ship docked and three the next day. Dr. Nevius also removed a growth from the breast of a small baby.
 Shortly after an emergency call came from Father Hotovitsky, the Russian Priest at Belkofsky. A man had been shot; we rushed to his aid but arrived too late. Dr. Nevius wis ited all the sick and examined the school children before we left.
 There seems to be little more that could do in False Pass, so I decided to try to get to Unga via gas boat.