Healthcare Dudley & Kiniya Style An addendum to Fall 2012 CD News In researching and assembling this article we received more material from contributors than we could find space for in the Fall issue of the CD News. We suggested to our readers that, “for additional background and history of ‘Dudley Healthcare’ please go to our website www.campdudley.org.” If you have a story of your own about the doctors, nurses or infirmaries of Dudley and Kiniya that you’d like to share, please send it to Brendan@campdudley.org. From one of our histories, Camp Dudley, The First Fifty Years Early History: As far back as the 1890s there was a focus on health. Per The First 50 Years, page 40: “The daily menu, health and sanitation, and business details required constant attention. In a large tent, known as ‘Headquarters,’ were located the office, store, post office, and lost and found department. Mr. Dudley personally took care of first-aid cases in ‘headquarters,’ but with the increased numbers in Camp, a hospital tent was provided for boys requiring medical attention. In 1896 Dr. Elias G. Brown took charge of the medical department.” Page 48, “Camp Health:” “Too often in selecting a campsite not enough consideration is given to the important matter of health as it is affected by water supply and sanitation and by ample medical equipment and supervision. In the early days of camp history little thought was given these matters. In fact, when Camp Dudley employed a physician on its staff the criticism was offered that the boys were being coddled. For many years a tent served as medical headquarters. In 1908, the Infirmary was located on the upper floor of the office building, now used as the office for Dudley Doings, the weekly newspaper. In 1918 a generous gift made
possible the erection of the present Infirmary, the boys contributing about one-half the labor in constructing the building. Since1896 a medical staff has been an important part of the Camp Dudley organization. In recent years, a graduate doctor with a degree, hospital experience, and a license to practice has headed the health department. He usually has two or three assistants. Able and competent supervision with proper facilities for caring for boys temporarily ill are necessary, if a healthful camp is to be maintained. “In matters of health, cooperation with the local health officer is important, especially in supervision of water and milk supply, disposal of sewage and garbage, cleanliness of food handlers, and causes of contagion or serious infections. Camp Dudley is especially fortunate in having a splendid water supply made possible by the generous gift of Mr. Hamilton M. Barksdale, who in 1923 provided funds for the purchase of a mountain spring, building a 52,000-gallon reservoir and piping the water four miles. The pipes are laid three feet underground and fountains make readily accessible the finest spring water at various places about the camp grounds. The spring water system also made possible the present flush toilet system with filtration fields. Previous to the installation of the flush toilets the U.S. Army incinerator system was used and before that a screened privy that was far from satisfactory. In 1928 the hot shower baths were added. The hot showers, given twice a week, have provided facilities for keeping bodies clean and have practically eliminated all skin ailments. The only complaint about hot showers came from a boy who stated that after an application of hot water and soap he lost nearly all his tan. “The disposal of waste water from kitchen and toilets is an important problem. In 1909 a septic tank, designed by Mr. Holland, who later built the Holland tunnel, was installed to take care of this waste. “The garbage is deposited in metal cans, with tight metal covers. The cans are kept clean on the outside and the garbage is taken away daily by a neighboring farmer.
“Milk is provided on the basis of one quart per person a day. The milk comes from tested cows. The conditions in the barns are given attention by the local health officer.
At his funeral service Dr. Ralph Sockman said, “A gentleman has been defined as one who puts the feelings of others before his own rights or the rights of others before his own feelings.” This was Doc Cutler. From Camp Dudley, The First 100 Years, Page 104: “The new infirmary, made possible by a gift from Charles Stewart Mott, became the second major addition. Constructed in 1963, the infirmary greatly improved our ability to handle emergencies, accidents, and health problems.”
“Waste paper and rubbish are deposited by the boys in barrels placed about the campus for this purpose. The barrels are taken daily before breakfast to an incinerator where all rubbish and papers are burned. A clean camp means a healthful camp. Good housekeeping is important. “Certainly a major responsibility of a camp is the health and well being of its boys. In this department Camp Dudley seeks the advice and counsel of its medical friends and endeavors to assure to its boys the best protection in health and safety.”
Dr. Condict W. Cutler, Jr., (Picture, p. 41, First 100 Years) who came to Camp Dudley as a leader in 1909 and later served as camp physician, has given valuable counsel in the betterment of health and sanitary conditions and for many years has guided the health policy of Camp Dudley.
Page 168: “In addition there were several men who donated their talents and efforts to Dudley during their vacation time as the camp physicians, including Dick Edie, Stu Updike, Don Stevenson, Oscar Garfein, Jeff Nicholas, and Rick Sears” New Infirmary Dedicated in 1963: From the 1963 Last Whistle dedication to the doctors and nurses:
In the appendix to this book are printed the Camp Dudley health card and special instructions for leaders, parents and campers.
“They were always there with the friendly smile and a sincere concern. For this little extra attention we would like to show our gratitude with the dedication of this, the 1963 Last Whistle.
From the Dedication of the 1958 Last Whistle: Since 1913, Doc Cutler has been a member of the Dudley family.
“Leader, Camp Doctor, member of the CD Committee, chairman of the Board, founder of the CDA, steady contributor to DD, in 1933 presented Cutler Lodge, 1958 named chairman of the 75th Committee.
“It is particularly fitting that this dedication should be made this year, the year of the building of the new infirmary. It symbolizes that we at Dudley are not content to rest on our reputations.
“Professionally he was known and admired as an outstanding hand surgeon and a contributor to the efforts of medicine.”
“While you may have forgotten the cause of your visit, you will probably always remember the warmth and understanding with which you were treated . . . by all
the infirmary staffs throughout the years. The Hagmans: Dr. George L. and Ruby Stone Hagman, Royal Oak Michigan. His 19th summer at Dudley was 1959.
#6581 Berk Johnson, Jr.: “Dr. Hagman was a medical missionary in China and when Japan took after them in the late ‘30s they had to retreat to America. How Chief found them, I don’t know. They (Dr. and Mrs. Hagman as nurse) were ensconced when I arrived in 1942 . . . my recurring recollection of Dr. H. was the injection he tried to give me for tetanus or something like that . . . rusty needle and all, and the needle bent when it hit the bone in my scrawny little arm . . . nonplussed, he got another reasonably sterile needle and administered the fluid . . . I am still here, so I guess sterility may not be everything it is cracked up to be these days . . . or we were just tougher in those. Hagman, of course, was the inventor of the basic rule of good health, ‘Institute Rhythm’ . . . preached daily and on Sundays at hymn sing.”
#5310 Dudley Dalton “I don’t know where the Hagmans came from. They were at Camp when I first went there in 1938. I am fairly certain that was not their first year. I remember Dr. Hagman as soft-spoken and friendly. His wife, I think, was the first woman to work at the Camp.
“At about that time, we had a case of food-poisoning at the camp. In the 1930s, Camp got its chickens from nearby farms. The kitchen staff had to pluck the feathers and clean the chickens to prepare them for meals. A couple of the chickens were left on a counter in the hot sun before they became part of the “lo mein.” I remember this well because I ate heartily that night and was the first to get sick, throwing up most of the night. Dr. Hagman treated us the next day, primarily advising us to eat mostly toast and sip sugary liquids for the first couple of days. Since I was the sickest, Dr. Hagman told Chief that I should sip on soda for the first day. Chief told me to spend the day in his cabin and to sip on the ginger ale he had in the refrigerator. I don’t remember if he had a refrigerator or icebox at that time. I do remember the iceman used to drop by Camp in his horse-drawn wagon. He had large blocks of ice covered with sawdust. Occasionally, on really hot days, he let me ride on his wagon, sitting on the blocks of ice.” #8665 Dr. Mike McCutcheon “Dr. and Mrs. Hagman — She wore the traditional nurse’s uniform every day she was on duty. I admired their lifelong partnership as doctor and nurse/husband and wife. “The Infirmary: Big wraparound porch The inpatient part was spacious and had lots of light and LOTS of fresh air. It was a good place to get better. As one improved he would be transferred out onto the porch and then to his cabin. I remember the scale that was on the porch and the site of many weigh-ins to see who was losing the most weight. Curly Morrison comes to mind. “Transition: I can’t remember the first doc to work with Dr. Hagman, but it was a little difficult for him as it was a clash of old style Dudley medicine and the new. Then there were no computers, just a small card of health information on each camper. Now we have computers, and multi-page health forms. Then, kids had simple problems and few on medications. Now, they have more complex problems and medications.
“Re Nurse Kapper: A nurse’s nurse — a great observer and a wealth of hands-on experience. When Sheila speaks, a wise doctor listens. She has great clinical judgment. Very caring and one of the better ambassadors Dudley has known. Her rapport with anxious mothers is unparalleled. I always marvel at this when I witness arrivals and pick-ups at the end of the season. I started coming to Camp as a Dudley Doc one year after Sheila started, I think I have 22/23 straight years in. It has been a great addition to my life. And a good way to ‘give back.’ “I knew I wanted to be a doctor before starting camp, but along the way, Don Stevenson, Dick Edie and the stories about Doc Cutler fortified my desire. I also know that just being at Dudley, hearing from all quarters that service to others was a honorable way to spend ones life, solidified my decision. “A common denominator for all of the summer docs is knowing when a kid is really sick. Yes, confidence in oneself to know when you are in over your head and need to call for help. And listen to Sheila who really knows young boys and when they are sick. Luckily today, unlike the days of Dr. Hagman, there is a large cadre of skilled docs in the region. We have been fortunate to have many docs with experience and good judgment. #8674 Dr.Bill Vanneman “I’ve been the Camp Doc 16 years, since 1996. Nick Langan and Mike McCutcheon have been longer and Mike is ‘the dean.’ Sheila is the best I’ve ever worked with.”
#7314 Dr. Don Stevenson ‘The Infirmary building was not much larger than a cabin and located just above Swim Point on the Plebe cabin side, when we were all there in the 1950s. It seems to me that Doc Hagman was a retired Missionary
doctor but I could be wrong. He seemed really old and may have been retired. I think he was a GP and stayed for the whole eight weeks. Mrs. Hagman was the nurse and the only one. They were on call all summer and never left the Camp. I think they lived in MacLean. I started as a Cub in 1946 (age 10 3/4). The Hagmans were in the Infirmary then. Chief was there when I was a cub. He must have recruited them because Bob was not director yet. “My first tour as Camp Doctor was in the summer of 1963 (2 weeks). The new Infirmary was in place. Willie Schmidt became director in the 1970s. He reached out to both of us, particularly Jeanne, and I was then Camp Doctor on and off until I retired from my second 5-year term on the Board of CD (2000). When Willie was the Director, he hired Camp Doctors for two weeks at a time with a major preference toward specialists who could help him with his own chronic conditions (Allergy, Cardiology, GI). There seemed to be very view pediatricians in my day. There were no big health care problems on any my two-week rotations. We did have one GI virus epidemic that filled every bed in the Infirmary for a few days. Probably Rota virus (you have read about those epidemics on cruise ships). I cannot remember the year of the ‘epidemic’ but it was really no big deal. Rota virus infections are always self limiting. “I pursued medicine because my career as a professional baseball player was interrupted in my freshman year at Princeton. Instead of making the team and becoming the superstar I believed I was at that time, I was on the first cut list during try-outs. Had to have a fall back job and lucked out. My father was a Missionary doctor (surgeon). I had grown up with medicine and always loved it. My dad was a major inspiration in my life. In fact, Father was a prisoner of war in the Philippines during WWII. If he had not returned from the war I never would have been a CD Cub in 1946. Mom knew nothing about Dudley and our little family would have had bigger problems to overcome than a summer camp for her oldest boy.”
#9061 C. Roland “Stich” Stichweh: “My tour of duty followed on the heels of Ken Hafner who was ‘Mr. Safety’ – first; foremost; and forever. We followed his lead insisting on many safety rules, including no kids can place their fingers through the backstops on the baseball diamonds. While good luck must always play a role, I can report that we never had any serious medical calamities during that time – when I think of the ‘Infirmary,’ the word that comes to mind is ‘Uneventful.’ That is the wish and prayer of all Directors!”
#9988 Dr. Nick Langan: “Location, location, location. I do remember the old infirmary. Since I was a first-year full- season Plebe in Teale in 1963, the old infirmary was right in our Plebe neighborhood, a cabin look-a-like, hiding in plain sight. I don’t remember actually ever going in there.
“I had an older cousin in the Juniors, who, not wanting me to be an embarrassment, had wised me up enough to avoid letting the infirmary treat my ‘ear lobes’ with mercurochrome. Nothing says ‘rube’ like red, red ear lobes. “The new infirmary was being built in Cub alley during the summer of 1963? But there wasn’t much over in that corner of the camp for Plebes . . . just cubbies, but that’s about it. “It has been said that had they located the infirmary up beyond the senior cabins, the current infirmary traffic would be nothing like it is today. “The thing about the infirmary in those days, sick call was really only twice a day. It wasn’t the ostensible, “We never sleep” affair it is today. “For the past 50 years, the infirmary has been located among its most popular constituents – the Cub division. It’s the home-sick center, with nurses as stand-in
moms; a 24-hour cough drop dispensary; the captured bat drop off – Bat-sicles R Us – and so much more. “It is the news stand with one copy of the New York Times everyday, where J.L.s and aides stop and catch up on their sports news. How’d the Yankees or Red Sox do last night? How’s Lance Armstrong doing in the Tour de France? Do you think he’ll win again? Really? How DOES he do it?!? “The porch’s cooler is packed with ice for sprains and twisted ankles. And a little band-aid stand for do-ityourselfers. “Inside the door, it’s the one-stop, in-and-out, accurate weight scale. Notice how the scale is always rolled back to zero pounds? Patient confidentiality at work! And confidentiality doesn’t stop there! “At the end of the hall, the infirmary features a sotto voce, one-day laundry service. It was once used, briefly, as the camp brig, but then upon infirmary protest, a court order was issued and it was decided to let the infirmary be the infirmary. “Some spiritually-minded people may wonder at times what heaven is like. I would posit it may involve summer time by a northern lake, with comfortable chairs on a screened-in porch watching the world go by with the possibility of wheedling some freeze pops out of the Sheila. Did I mention there’s a comfortable sofa at the far end for naps? There is. “The oldest constant in the infirmary is the examining rooms light green metallic medical furniture: metal tables, metal cabinets with locking metal framed glass windows. It’s the same furniture from the infirmary photos from 70 or 80 years ago. “Next in constancy would be the medical ward, which looks the same now as when first built 50 years ago. About eight metal beds along one wall, five across the way, perfectly made up, looking like they’re about to play red rover. “And the modern constant is Sheila, the ‘sine qua non’; the ‘without which not.’ I’m sure no one thinks the
doctors are in charge of the infirmary! No more than the Colonel was in charge on M.A.S.H. Radar O’Reilly was in charge! “And Sheila Kapper is in charge of the infirmary . . . thank God! That’s why, on the picture of Jesus over the sink, I’ve written in His thought bubble, “What would Sheila do?” “My favorite night at the Infirmary, I was doing the on-call overnight duty for Sheila who was getting to sleep in her own bed in their cabin on staff hill. I turned in early and was asleep when the front door buzzer went off. I went to answer it and it was a camper who had gone to the Tute, but since it was so dark, he couldn’t find his way back to the cabin. “I rummaged around in the infirmary’s vintage doctor office furniture, find a flashlight, stepped out on the porch to see if the light worked and pointed it into the darkness and heard the camper conscientiously flip the front door closed behind me. ‘Dude!’ I said, ‘You didn’t just lock me out did you?’ ‘Oh, sorry!’ he said. “Okay, now I’m standing outside in a shirt, my boxer shorts and no shoes and I’m locked out of the infirmary. ‘Wait here,’ I said. And quickly made a loop around the infirmary. ‘Yup, it’s pretty secure. You lock the front door and you’re out.’ “As I came back to the porch, here comes an Aide with a camper with an upset stomach. “’Hey,’ I say to the Aide, ‘I’m locked out. Leave your camper on the porch, take this flash light and get this other camper back to his cabin. I have to go to Sheila’s cabin and get the key to get back in.’ “Hopping on my bike, barefoot and in boxers, I flew down the hill while the cold, brisk, Adirondack mountain air, rolling off the hill, blew up my shorts. It’s like being smacked in the face with a wet fish, only lower. “I decide to stop at the doc cabin and get some pants, because I believe that when you knock on a girl’s door in the middle of the night you definitely should have some pants on. Besides what if Fred answers the door!
He may keep bows and arrows in the cabin, I don’t know. “I get the keys, go back up to the infirmary, open the door and ask the tummy ache camper whether he wants Pepto-Bismol, Tums, Maalox . . . whatever he wants! I’m in a good mood now, and the antacids are on me! “I think if I get him squared away my adventure is over, but not quite . . . “Right then, two JLs come into view and they are pumped! They’ve caught a bat and it is still alive!!! I know the drill, I get about three plastic bags, and like Russian dolls put the bat in one bag, then that bag in a bag, in a bag. I put the triple-bagged bat in the freezer – Bat-sicles! But once the freezer is open, Pavlovian instincts kick in and the guys want some Freeze Pops to celebrate. I give them two a piece and as they start in on their Freeze Pops they’re still looking at me in anticipation. ‘What?’ I ask. ‘Are you going to test it for rabies now?’ ‘Oh, right!’ I say, ‘Actually, guys, all of our viral isolation lab in the basement is closed down for the night. All the equipment is turned off. But check back tomorrow!’ They nod, and happy with their Freeze Pops, walk off into the night. Just a typical night on call in the Infirmary.” #15305 Nurse Sheila Kapper: “What I do think is notable about the “new” infirmary, built in 1963-63, is that the materials used have lasted so long. Great quality wood, the beds have such a “Cider House Rules” persona. I often quote that book when tours come through. The placement of the building is in the perfect spot on campus, I know that had to be a consideration many years ago. “Many years ago, Bill Sword Sr. and I had a long conversation about how the “Infirmary” came to be and the persuasion of Mr. Mott to fund the proposal. To say the least, it made for a wonderful, enlightening conversation. Bill was quite a storyteller.
“One time we had an in-patient at the Infirmary from the Caribbean. He was lying in bed and soon I heard a very loud French voice yelling . . . ‘Sheila, Sheila there is a rat in here.’ Of course I ran very quickly into the large ward area and expecting the worst nearly fell on the floor in waves of laughter. His rat turned out to be a red squirrel that had gotten into the building when the back Infirmary door had been left open for a period of time. No rats here!” #13469 Dr. Joe Donahue: “Serving at Camp was a great experience. Easier than I expected. I went to my kid’s pediatrician to spend some time to brush up on kids, ears, asthma, but saw very little. Sheila makes it easy. Most things were bumps and bruises, orthopedic stuff I’m used to. One scholarship boy came to camp with an unrecognized knee fracture but was able to stay once treated. Ralph LaRovere’s son broke his arm and it was nice to be able to help out a friend’s son. It is a healthy environment in so many ways — active kids doing anything and everything — eating well — living in a positive environment in every way. My first introduction to medicine was when I was an engineer and got injured, had surgery and was fascinated by orthopedics. I now work with the surgeon who operated on me.” #7987 Dr. Richard N. “Dick” Edie: “Re: CD health. Don’t’ remember exactly how many years I worked there, but I assume it was 5-6 during the late 197080s. I know I was there when son Rick was a staff member in the hike hut. After the Hagman’s, who were there for the
entire summer, I believe the docs did one month tours, then there were four docs for two weeks each (what I did), and now I really don’t know how long each one works. When I was there, Sheila was either the only or 1 of 2 nurses. We had a basic medicine cabinet with some drugs and first aid equipment, a far cry from what they have today. The health inspectors came once or twice a summer at best. “Sheila is a princess. She always was so calm and compassionate with all the kids, and of course, her TLC solved most of the problems. When there was a serious condition, she knew exactly how to proceed with the appropriate care or referral as necessary. Dudley has been blessed to have had her in their midst for all these years. As the supporting nurses came and went, Sheila was the rock of the foundation at the Infirmary and certainly worth her weight in gold. “Other than that, my only other contribution was to get Oscar to care for Willie after he had his heart attack while running in the NYC Marathon in October 1970. Oscar then came to CD as the doc and did it a lot longer than I. “It was a great time in my life to spend a couple of weeks on Staff Hill with all the others. Though I did put in many hours at sick call and was on 24-hour duty each day, I had terrific backup with Sheila and the other nurses, and thus was able to spend many an hour umpiring baseball games and more.”
Send your recollections on the “Dudley Docs,” nurses, infirmary and health care to brendan@campdudley.org.