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.