Playtime “Operation” Turns Out A Success And Miss Connelley, 6, Has Certificate To Prove It
Catching measles, mumps or chickenpox from a playmate are often the ordinary events of childhood, but catching a vaccination, without benefit of a doctor, needle or nurse is something in the way of a minor medical miracle. But it has been done and two little Norwood girls, Paula Wilder and Jean Connelley of Harding road, have both a vaccination and doctor’s certificate to prove it.
Several weeks ago Jean caught a vaccination from Paula. It resembles any other ordinary vaccination decorating a youngster’s arm and has made the six-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Connelley rather famous among Norwood doctors and amazed neighbors that have seen and heard about it.
The original vaccination belongs to five-year-old Paula, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Wilder. Vaccinated by Dr. George Small in preparation for coming school sessions, she was a jump ahead of her friend Jean. Mrs. Connelley had not decided whether Jean should have hers on her arm or leg and wanted to wait until after a coming dancing recital. The whole summer stretched ahead in which to have this “operation” performed. But Mrs. Connelley had little to say about the whole matter after Paul Wilder came home from Dr. Small’s office.
The two little girls were in the yard of the • Wilder home, Paula showing her scars very proudly and Jean admiring them very enviously. Mrs. Wilder looked out the window just in time to see Paula scratch Jean’s arm with a pin. “That’s what Dr. Small did,” Paula said. She rubbed her own, brand-new vaccination up against her friend’s scratched arm. Mrs. Wilder called out to reprimand the two and the incident was forgotten.
When Jean went home she showed signs of a fever and the scratched arm began to swell. Mrs. Connelley called Mrs. Wilder, who is a nurse at the Norwood Hospital. The afternoon game was brought to mind, but Mrs. Wilder said that it was impossible to catch vaccinations.
The lump on Jean’s arm grew into a vaccination however, and when she was taken to Dr. George Allen he said it was the real thing. He wrote out a certificate, for the six-year-old Miss Connelly to take to school on opening day.
Dr. Paula Wilder is quite proud of her unusual accomplishment. Jean Connelley is extremely proud of her vaccination, and both little girls think it was an excellent and very simple job.
(All articles originally appeared in the Norwood Messenger unless otherwise noted)