Digging into some old newspapers, I found a brief article from The Greenwood (SC) Daily Journal on 13 October 1917 explaining that Soldiers returning from the World War I battlefields had to be “coddled and wheedled into taking bad-tasting medicines”.
I can completely relate.
As winter is approaching just around the corner, it is flu shot time. Reluctantly, I received mine yesterday. I know it is good for me to have the shot—they really do prevent the flu, but that doesn’t take away the burden of having to get the shot in the first place.
I am learning, though. I was told during my last vaccination, when I first entered into Korea and had about five shots all at once, that if you relax as much as possible, the shots will be easier to take. At that first visit, I began to tense up like you must do when they draw blood. However, if you tense up during a shot, the needle must force its way into the hardened tissue—creating more pain. So, I learned to relax and let the medic give me the shot. I’ve got to do it anyway. The funny thing is that it took me 46 years to figure that out—and then I needed to be told.
So, yes, I can relate to not wanting to take the medicine. It would probablybe much worse if I was ordered to take a tea spoon of Cod Liver Oil. Nothing about that sounds appealing.
Rodney Olsen says
I’ve always hated needles but I seem to have to have them from time to time. I make sure that I’m looking away so that I don’t tense up when I see the needle approaching my skin. 🙂