Count Backwards from 100....

Tommy Towery

LHS '64

Today’s story is pre-Lee, but I hope you will still find it interesting and perhaps it will bring back some personal memories. 

The other day I was talking to a college friend about medical procedures and the topic of sedation methods came up. These days when I need to be sedated for a procedure it is done through an IV and I drift off peaceably to sleep and wake up almost refreshed when it is time. Once I was administered gas when I was having some dental work performed. Anyway, we got to talking about when, as children, we had our tonsils removed and were put to sleep using ether – which was not as pleasant as today’s method.

I never thought about why my tonsils were important back then, but today I looked them up on the internet. “What are tonsils? Your tonsils are two round, fleshy masses in the back of your throat (pharynx). Part of your immune system, your tonsils are like lymph nodes. They help filter out germs that enter through your nose or mouth to protect the rest of your body from infection. Sometimes tonsils can become red, swollen or infected. If this issue becomes chronic or doesn’t get better, your healthcare provider might recommend a tonsillectomy (tonsil removal). Typically, people who have their tonsils removed can still fight off infection without any problems. Your body can find other ways to combat germs.”

Tonsillectomy is the surgical removal of your tonsils. It’s done to treat sleep-related breathing issues or frequent infections. While surgeons perform tonsillectomies less often than they used to, the procedure is still common today. Tonsillectomy recovery takes up to two weeks.  While most tonsillectomies treat children, adults can also benefit from the procedure.

I honestly cannot say when and why I had my tonsils removed. It was sometime when I was still in elementary school. I don't remember anything about them causing me any problems, but I guess they did. I remember the doctor using ether for the procedure. I remember a mask being placed over my nose and mouth and then the ether being poured onto the mask and the somewhat unpleasant medical smell it had for me. What's the story behind the mask?

“The anaesthetic mask became a standard medical tool after it was introduced around 1904. Its chrome-plated wire frame supports a tear-shaped mesh form. Gauze was draped over the frame and held in place using a spring. Ether would have been dropped onto the gauze by a trained health care provider in order to achieve the desired level of anaesthesia.”

What does ether do to a person? “Ether is characterized by rapid absorption in the central nervous system and short-term effects. It induces anesthesia, a state of unconsciousness useful in invasive surgical procedures. Also, ether is capable of producing psychotropic effects such as euphoria and hallucination.”

I don’t remember anything special about waking up from it, but I do remember something which seems a little strange in today's world. I was given my tonsils in a little glass jar to take home and mine were placed on a mantel like a trophy won in a contest. Sometime after that the little bottle disappeared and the memory of it was placed in the back of my mind, to lay dormant for many years. Last year when I had my appendectomy they didn't give me that to take home in a jar. I guess I didn't ask for it I suppose.

I searched the internet about this unique practice and found a quote, “If you want to keep your tonsils in a jar for any reason, yes you can. But first of all you have to request your doctor that you want to get the specimen of your tonsils and secondly you have to store those tonsils in formalin (formaldehyde) solution. Body tissues can only be stored for long if they are put in this solution otherwise they cannot keep their shape if simply put in water.”

I also remember that my adenoids were removed at the same time as my tonsils.

Adenoids are a patch of tissue that is high up in the throat, just behind the nose. They, along with the tonsils, are part of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system clears away infection and keeps body fluids in balance. The adenoids and tonsils work by trapping germs coming in through the mouth and nose.

Why remove them? “Surgery to remove the adenoids is called an adenoidectomy (ADD en oyd ECT oh mee). An adenoidectomy may be done if your child has trouble with breathing through the nose or for problems with frequent ear infections or sinus infections, among other reasons. Often, the adenoids shrink as children reach their teens.”

I don’t remember getting to take my adenoids home with me in a glass jar.

The Wayback Machine

Good Lovin'

Since we are reading about doctors and health issues, I found a song that fits the bill.

"Good Lovin'" is a song written by Rudy Clark and Arthur Resnick that was a #1 hit single for the Young Rascals in 1966. "Good Lovin'" rose to the top of the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the spring of 1966 and represented the Young Rascals' first real hit.

It is one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, and was ranked #333 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. Writer Dave Marsh placed it at #108 in his 1989 book The Heart of Rock and Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made.

Some of you might remember it was also used in "The Blues Brothers" movie.

Happy Birthday to all the classmates who are having birthday celebrations this week. I am sure that there are some wonderful memories of birthday parties in the past, or maybe even some horrible memories. What do you have to say?

Last Week's Questions, Answers, And Comments

Joel Weinbaum,  LHS ‘64, "'Carrabbas' is a great location for our gatherings. Excellent food. At this age there is no room for missed opportunities to gather. We all had a good time. At my table we talked military experiences...so long ago! Thanks Tommy for this newsletter."

Phyllis (Miller) Rodgers, LHS ‘65, "Tommy, I’m just amazed with the remembrances that you and others have of growing up! I kept a diary, but it surely didn’t contain any meaningful information or memories that I would share 😄.  I very much look forward to your interesting newsletter each week. My high school friends, Beth McNabb Weinbaum and  Sally Price Rice, and I still get together for birthday 🎂 and girlfriend venting 🤭 lunches."