The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-10-24
DOCTORS CALLED
WITHOUT CAUSE
imperative That Physicians and
Nurses Not Be Summoned
Unless Necessary. -
PROPER CARE OF PATIENTS
Surgeon General Blue Tells What to
Do for Persons Sick With Spanish
~, inhuenxa-Use Of Gauxe
Masks Recommended.


Masks Recommended.
WashingtOn.-Ina an effort to reduce
unnecessary calls on the Over-worketl
physicians throughout the country be
cause Of the present epidemic of In
fiuenxa. Surgeon General Blue of tho
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
siclans 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 cnses requiring
expert medical care and those which
could readily be cared for without a
physician With Influenza continuing
to spread IN many parts Of the coun-
try, and with an acute shortage Of doc
tors and nurses everywhere, every un-
necessary call on either physicians or
nurses makes 1t SO much harder to
meet the urgent needs Of the patients
who are seriously Ill.
Present Generation Spoiled.
surgeon general. ''has been spoiled by
having had expert medical and nursing
care readily available 1t was not so
In the days of our grandmothers, when
every good housewife was expected to
know a good deal about the care Of the
sick.
Every person who feels sick and
appears to be developing an attack
Of influen1a should Mt once be put to
bed In q Wesl-vcntilated room. II his
bowels tnve Dsved regularly, 1t is not
-physic is needed, dose Of castor oil
or Rochelle salts should be given.
The room should be cleared of all
unnecessary furniture. bric-a-brac, and
rugs. A wash basin, pitcher, and slop
bowl, soap and towel should be at
hand, preferably in the room % just
outside the door.
"If the patient is feverlsh a doctor
should be called. and this should be
done in any case II the patient appears
very sick, or coughs up pinkish (blOO<i-
stained) sputum, or breathes rapidly
and painfully. -s,s
Most Of the patients cough up con-
siderable mucus; In some. there Is
much mucus discharged from the nose
and throat. This material should not
be collected in handkerchiefs, but
rsther In bits OF old rags. or toilet pa-
per. or on paper napkins. As sOon az
used. these rags or papers should be
placed In a paper bag kept beside the
bed. Pocket hsndkerchiefs are out Of
place in the sick room and should not
be used by patients. The rags or pa
pers in the paper bag should be burned.
..The patients will not be hungry.
and the diet should therefore bt. light.
Milk. a soft-bOiled egg. some toast or
crackers. a bit OF Jelly or jam. stewetl
fruit, some cooked cereal like oatmeal.
hOminy or rice-these will suffice In
most cases.
Comfort Of Patient.
"The comfort of the patient depends
should not be overlooked. Among
these may be mentioned a well-venu-
lated room; thoroughly clean bed
with fresh, smooth sheets and pillow
cases; quiet, SO that refreshing sleep
may be hud; cool drinking water con-
veniently placed; n cool compress to
the forehead II there Is headache
keeping the patients hands and face
clean, and the hair cOmbed: keeping
his mouth clean, preferably with some
pleasant mouth wash; letting the pa
tient know that someone Is within call.
but not annoying him with too much
wf..tr 81 al ~
opportunity to rest and sleep.
1T is advisable to give the sick room
a good airing several times day.
$50 much for the patient. 1t is
equally important to consider the per-
son who is caring for him. 1t is i'm
portant to remember that the disease
is spread by breathing germ-laden mat
ter sprayed into the stir by the patient
In coughing or even in ordinary breath
ing. The attendant should therefore
wear gauze mask over her mouth
and nose while she is in the sick room.
Such mask is easily made by folding
piece of gnuze four fold. sewing
piece of tape mt the four corners, and
tying the upper set of tapes over the
ears, the lower set around the neck.
If the folded piece of gauze is about
six inches square 1t will nicely cover
both mouth and nose. Such n mask
can be worn without discomfort for
several hours. after which 1t can be
boiled in water, dried and used over.
Observe Cleanliness.
1.-The attendant should, II possible,
wear washable gown or mn apron
which covers the dress. This will make