Ruth Campbell Smith 1925-27 Diaries

My grandmother, Ruth Campbell Smith (1892 - 1972) kept a diary for many years. I am posting her entries from 1925 - 1927 in this blog. Her family included sons Dale (1916 - 2004), Dick (1918 - 1971), Albert (1920 - 1979), and Ned (1923 - 1976), and later daughters Marjorie (1925 - 2010) and Eleanor (1929 - 2011). Her husband was Gilbert (1889 - 1937) and they lived in Indianapolis. I hope you enjoy this glimpse of what it was like to be a housewife and mother in the 1920's.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Monday, June 8, 1925

Monday, June 8, 1925
Warm

Ned seemed better but his neck swollen yet so I tried electricity on it and his fever came right up. There must be pus in there. Albert had to have a poultice again last night. His gland is swollen more again. I shall poultice it at night and use ointment on it in day time. So keep other skin from being irritated. Poulticed Ned this eve.

(Not sure what that electricity thing is all about! Sounds a bit scary. It seems like treating Albert and Ned's illness was almost routine for Grandma at this point, applying poultices and ointments on a daily basis. I think from previous entries in the diary, the poultice was made from flaxseed.)