I had 'em and back then when we came down with a bug, mom used to make the sisters get it and vice versa. She said it was easier to just take care of everybody all at once instead of it dragging on over weeks and weeks one at a time. Had an aunt bring a cousin over during the pox to get it out of the way. I guess that'd be child abuse now... Only time that "rule" wasn't followed was with the mumps. My dad never had them, so he went to neighbors for some days. Mumps, so I was told, were harder on older folks than young ones. Being more rural I suppose, we didn't have that quarantine thingy other than self imposed. Everyone on the "party line" would find out and word would get around to give some space.
Doc did make house calls and a quick call on a "party line" about any "needs" were met by the neighbors or family. Stuff usually got dropped off at the porch or milk house if it was "valuable" and they didn't wanna get as close as the porch. No one ever went in another's milk house, that was messing with your livelyhood.
All the country stores down here had credit books where you could get stuff and they'd log it and you'd sign it. If you traded with them, then they'd have a book with the family name on it. You used "the book" in between checks or crops for stuff that couldn't wait. Then when you got a milk check or sold your tobacco or traded eggs or whatever, you'd pay on it. If you were laid up and needed an errand run, you could call the store and tell 'em JohnnyMac was coming to get xyz for you and put it on your book and you'd just drop it off on the way by. Neighbors or family would come out for chore help, drop off meals, and things sorta just got took care of.
