The Sneedville news. (Sneedville, Tenn.) 191?-19??, 1918-10-25
UNNECESSARY CALLS
MADE ON PHYSICIANS
Proper Treatment of Mild Cases
of Spanish Influenza.
Use Of oauze Masks 10 Recommended
for Those Nursing Siek-Hand-
kerehiefs Are Out Of Place
Rest 10 Important.

unnecessary calls on the over.worked
physicians throughout the country be-
cause Of the present epidemic of in
United States public health service
calls upon the people Of the country to
learn something about the home care
OF patients Ill with influenza. Ply
sicians everywhere have complained
about the large number of unnecessary
calls they have had to make because
Of the inability Of many people TO dis
tinguish between the cases requiring
expert medical care and those which
could readily be cared for without n
physician. With influenza continuing
10 spread In many parts of the coun-
try. and with an acute shortage of doc
tors and nurses everywhere, every I'M
necessary call on either physicians or
nurses makes II so much harder to
meet the urgent needs OF the patients
who are seriously III.
Present Generation Spoiled.
'The present generation" said the
surgeon general. has been spoiled by
having had expert medical and nursing
care readily available. II was not so
In the days of our grandmothers, wheR
every good housewife was expected to-
know good deal about the care Of thel
sick.
Every person who feels sick and
appears TO be developing an attaci1
OF influenza should at once be put Il
bed In a well-ventilated room. If hie
bowels have moved regularly. IL IL not
necessary TO give a physic; where
pbysic Is needed. a dose OF castor oil
or Rochelle salts should be given.
'".he room should be cleared OF all
unnecessary furniture, brlc-a-brac. and
rugs. A wash basin. pitcher. and slop
bowl. soap and towel should be nt
hand, preferably In the room or just
outside the door.
IF the patient is feverIsh doctor
should be called, and this should be
done In any case II the patient appears
very sick. or coughs up plnklsh blood
stained) sputum, or breathes rapidly
and painfully. q,.s..,
Most Of the patients cough up 60
siderable mucus; In some. thGw y
much mucus discharged from -
and throat. ThIs mater1ol 49, =
be collected IN ho6dkGgl -
rather In bits of cd raG1. e. - 4
per, or on paper napkloA ~ ~
used. these rags or papers ehou11 T
placed in a paper bag kept 1900 ~ /
bed. Pocket handkerchief ere 81 r I
place In the sick room and $500 = I
be used by patients. The FaGs - -
pers In the paper bag should ~ burno4
'The patients will not - hunCgy.
and the diet should therekUte b. llGnG |
Milk, a soft-boIled egg. sorse toast - |
crackers, a bit of jelly or jam. stewo1
fruit, some cooked cereal like oatmeal.
homlny or rice-these will sufncs = |
most cases.
Comfort Of Patient.
'The comfort Of the patient depends
on u number OF little things. and these
should not be overlooked. Among |
these may be mentioned u well-venti-
lated room; thoroughly clean bed
with. fresh. rmooth sheets and pillow
cases: quiet, 80 that refreshing sleep
may be had. cool drinking water con-
veniently placed; cool compress to
the forehead II there is headache
keeping the patients hands and face
the forehead II there II headache
clean, and the hair combed: keeping
his mouth clean. preferably with some
pleasant mouth wash: letting the pa
tlent know that someone is within oil.
but not annoying him with too much
giving the patient plenty of
to rest and sleep.
ut is advisable 10 give the sick room
n good airing several times a day.
$50 much for the patient. II IL
equally important to consider the per-
son who il caring for him. II Is i'm
portant to remember that the disease
is spread by breathing germ-ladcn uat-
ter sprayed into the air by the patient
IN coughing or even In ordinary breath
ing. The attendant should therefore
wear n gauze mask over her mouth
and nose while she In In the sick room.
Such a mask Is easily made by folding
q piece Of gauze four fold. sewing a
piece Of tape nj the four corners
Observe Cleanliness
The attendant should. " possible.
wear a wnshnble gown or an apron
which covers the dress. This will make
4 much simpler 10 avoid Infection.
1T is desirable that all attendants
earn how to use fever Thermometer.
This Is not at all a difficult matter. and
he use Of such n thermometer T.
reat help Ia carisg for the patients.
The druggist who sells these therIBom-
tiers will be glad to show how they
ire used.
I'm closing. and lest ! he misunder- :
food. I wish 10 leave one word Of I
.aufIun- III In dwulf call fhe tIorsgr" I