Inside a Pre WW II Operating Theater
The operating theater (OR) premises in 1939 left much to be desired. It would, without doubt, be shut down by today's standard!
The theatre premises (OR) in 1939 left much to be desired. It would, without doubt, be shut down by today's standard!
The two main theaters in the Non-European Hospital were old and primitive. There were none of the exclusions and special routing of access, which was a later development. Then one walked directly into each theatre from the general corridor. Scrubbing took place in the theater itself. The habit was not to disrobe outer garments. Theatre pants and shirt were additional covering.
If not operating, one walked in even without that precaution! In the face of these adverse factors, meticulous attention was given to hand and arm scrubbing, as if this was the main source of bacteria and the aseptic technique of the operation itself. Emphasis was also placed on minimizing trauma to tissues and closed cover of incisions or wounds until healing was expected, or disappointing infection became apparent. This last restriction was not easily imposed on nursing staff who persisted with the habit of daily dressings.
Relevant to their labors and, more importantly, to the results, were the limitations surgical facilities provided. Major attention had to be given to avoid post operative sepsis because, although Blacks could withstand hemorrhage well, they succumbed more readily to infection and antibiotics were still to come.
This sort of surgical opportunity would certainly be the envy of housemen (interns) today. During Morris' locum tenens in Montana in the 1970's, he was appalled at the tight hold specialists maintained on surgery, even withholding instruction from young interns assisting at operating. The excuse was that instruction was restricted to residency surgeons–other interns would never be allowed to operate in subsequent practice. Even the anesthetists he came across would not deign to impart knowledge. So he evoked enthusiasm and gratitude by introducing two young interns to anesthesia and abdominal surgery.
The historical novel Whitewashed Jacarandas and its sequel Full of Possibilities are both available on Amazon as paperbacks and eBooks.
These books are inspired by Diana's family's experiences in small town Southern Rhodesia after WWII.
Dr. Sunny Rubenstein and his Gentile wife, Mavourneen, along with various town characters lay bare the racial arrogance of the times, paternalistic idealism, Zionist fervor and anti-Semitism, the proper place of a wife, modernization versus hard-won ways of doing things, and treatment of endemic disease versus investment in public health. It's a roller coaster read.
References:
Excerpt from Dr. Morris Isaac Hirsch's Unpublished Memoirs. Hirsch Archives.
Photo: https://johannesburg1912.com/2016/01/02/hospital-hill-old-suburb-between-braamfontein-hillbrow/