Health care in early Cranberry Township, as in much of the nation at that time, was primitive.

Life in the township was often marked by disease, disfigurement and early death – health threats which are easily managed today.

In the Cranberry Historical Society’s book “A History of Our Township,” here’s how the state of public health was described:

“One of the harsh realities of life in the 1800s was the high death rate among infants and young children from illnesses, respiratory infections and inadequate medical care. Among newborns, one infant in every six or seven did not survive the first year.

After age 1, one child of every four or five did not live to adulthood

Even among adults, epidemics were common and doctors were few, especially in rural areas such as Cranberry Township.”

Many people suffered from illnesses for which there were no known cures except the herbal medicine lore practiced by the American Indians.

Commonly used remedies were the roots of sassafras, ginseng and wild ginger.

Sassafras was either chewed or brewed into tea to treat arthritis, dysentery, stomach disorders and nervousness. Whiskey and brandy were the most widely used pain relievers.

By the early 1900s a wide variety of tonics, homeopathic remedies and parent medicines were available in stores and by mail order through the Sears Roebuck catalogue.

They were used to treat common colds, sore throat, constipation, skin problems, insomnia, stomach disorders and loss of appetite. Most of the tonics had a high alcoholic content.

People who lived in sparsely settled rural areas were mostly spared from tuberculosis, typhoid and cholera. But those who were hurt in farm accidents ran a high risk of tetanus or complications.

Appendicitis was often fatal. People born with birth defects such as harelip, cleft palate, clubfoot, bone malformations and eye problems learned to live with their conditions. There were no corrective treatments for stuttering, cross-eye, protruding or irregular teeth and many disorders which are routinely treated today.

Many people suffered from decaying or rotting teeth. Extraction was the only remedy.

Toothbrushes were available in stores by the 1830s, but they were not widely used until dental hygiene was taught in schools.

In the early days of this rural community, mothers and fathers practiced remedies handed down through generations.

Many mothers were capable of patching up broken bones and deep lacerations.

There are records of doctors practicing medicine in Cranberry almost as far back as the Civil War.

A Dr. Crawford, who practiced medicine in 1869 at Thorn Hill and relocated to Crawford, was typical of the physicians of his era. He treated patients at his home and made house calls throughout southern Butler and northern Allegheny County.

Lifelong resident William Meeder recalled: “Both my sister and brother had diphtheria when they were children. I didn’t get it, but clearly remember a Dr. Allen, who came to our house and gave me painful shots in my shoulder. Dr. Allen lived in the Koegler family’s house at Criders Corner and drove a fine team of black horses.”

Another doctor serving the area, according to the township history, was a Dr. Fitzsimmons who lived in Unionville and later moved to Zelienople. He also made house calls, using a horse team and buggy. Fitzsimmons was our doctor, too.

We made many visits to his office. I was always amazed to see his inventory of pills, tonics, lotions and salves. He would open the door of his huge closet where there were all shapes and sizes of containers.

And he would reach in, take one of the bottles, and pour pills or liquid into a small bottle, which we carried home with us.

The one I hated the most was his spring tonic. It tasted awful, but seemed to work. My guess is that by the 1930s, he had saved enough money to buy himself a car, but I don’t remember anything about it.

I recall that when I was a little girl, we didn’t go to the county fair or any large gathering of people out of fear of contracting polio. It was a crippling disease.

There was no cure until Pittsburgh native Dr. Jonas Salk created the first successful vaccine. I only remember two young men who contracted it; both had crippled legs.

Some folks were unfortunate enough to have to live in “iron lungs,” a huge metal respirator that aided breathing. It enclosed the entire body except for the head.

I had all the usual childhood diseases, as well as one that none of my schoolfriends ever got — scarlet fever. It was very contagious.

I was quarantined, although I never felt good enough to go anywhere. A bright red sign was posted on our door so people would know not to come in.

Those posters were used for other serious illnesses as well. A hundred years ago, life expectancy here was only 47 years. Back then, most babies were born at home, as I was. In the 19th century, nearly 90 percent of America’s doctors had no college education. Tuberculosis patients were sent to asylums to live apart from their families. The six leading causes of death in this country were pneumonia, influenza, tuberculosis, diarrhea, heart disease, and stroke.

And get this — until modern times, women would typically wash their hair once a month. Can you imagine? Most people got married in June because they had taken their yearly bath in May and were still pretty clean by June.

However, they were starting to smell. So brides would carry a bouquet of flowers to hide their body odor. Hence the modern custom of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

I find it remarkable that so many of these dramatic improvements in life, health and hygiene have actually occurred during my own lifetime.

And I’m only 70 years old. Amazing.