The Springdale news., 1909-10-15


 brane of some unaffected person
 Every secretion and exeretion from a person afflicted with one of these diseases is teeming with these bae- teria.
 There are enough of them in one mouthful of sputum from a tuber- culosis patient, or one intestinal dis charge from typhoid fever pa tient, to give the whole United States army, if properly distributed, tuberculosis or typhoid fever
 It will at once appear plain to any thinking mind that there are many ways by which this infection may be distributed, especially if no preventive measures are used
 patient with one of these dis eases at once becomes a menace to the community in which he lives. Only a few years ago it was very commonly expected that when case of typhoid fever occurred in a fam fly of several it would go through the family. This very often hap pened and sometimes happens yet, but not nearly so often as in form CT years
 This change is due to our bet ter knowledge of the cause of the disease, and the use of the proper precautions to prevent it's spread. In order to become practical let us sup pose case which occurs more or less frequently in the practice of every physician.
 He is called to a boy, say twelve or fifteen years old. who has never been brought under the least con- trel-has always done as he pleased The boy has symptoms of a beginning typhoid fever It has advanced far enoqgh that the doe tor is practically certain his patient has typhoid fever and yet maybe he is able to go into the yard or to the table =for.his meals His par ents, with the assistance ef some busy body among the netghbors, has already made the diagnosis and de cided that he has malaria or l little bilious spell. They thought, however, that they had better call a doctor lest he have a spell of the fever .
 Most medical men can recognize bay;po to their experience more than once.
 Here the doctor makes a survey of the place The house is dirty. dir ty carpets on the floor, everything in the house crossed and piled and covered with dust The yard covered with trash or weeds and all vegetables in a dying state May be a flock of chickens or other stock are kept in the yard, or a stock lot with barn all in close proximi- ty to the yard and house. All the filth in the yard and stock lot mak ing a harbor for and attracting mil lions of flies. and at the same time giving off all kinds of disagreeable odors The whole premises inside and out in a most unsanitary con dition To add to the gravity of the situation the parents are so Ig- norant that it is impossible by any means to bring them to any under standing of sanitation or the gray ity of the situation.
 Here We naturally feel inclined to throw up our hands and exclaim, we'll l am up against it. That this is true l am quite ready to admit.
 But this is no time for backing out if we would meet the responsi- bility which is resting upon us The question here is, what can the doe tor do to get this patient through in the best way possible and pre- vent the disease going through the family
 What shall we do; is the question. Let him state to the family plain ly the gravity of the situation. or der the carpets taken up, the floor secured. everything removed from the room where the patient is to stay except a bed, two chairs and table. and the window shades and everything that remains thoroughly dusted and cleaned. Or der a sponge bath for the patient. change of clothing and bed linen. and put the patient to bed.
 Yes, put the patient to bed. Order every body to stay out of his room except just enough to nurse him. and forbid all loud talking in or near his room. Have the we'll members of the family clean up and put the out side in as good sanitary condition as possible II the house has , screens order them kept closed, and every fly that gets into his room