Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-10-25
PHYSICIANS ARE
CALLED TOO sOuN
Not Necessary to Summon Doc
tor in Mild Cases of Span
iSh Influenza.
REST IN BED IS IMPORTANT
Acute Shortage of Medical and Nurs,
Ing Service Makes 1t imperative
That People Learn Something
of Care of Sick.

WaShlOgtOn.-ln an effort to reduce
unnecessary calls on the over-worked
physicians throughout the country be.
cause Of the present epidemic of in.
fuenza, Surgeon General Blue of the
United States public health services
calls upon the people of the country to
learn something about the home care
of patients i'll with influenza. Ply
sicians everywhere have complained
about the large number of unnecessary
calls they ave 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 d
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 it SO much harder to
meet the urgent needs Of the patients
who are seriously i'll.
Present Generation Spoiled.
'The present generation" said the
surgeon general, 'has been spoiled by
having had expert medical and nursing
care readily available. It 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 influenza should at once be put to
bed in a well-ventilated room. IF his
bowels have moved regularly, it is not
necessary to give a physic; where a
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 sloI
bowl, soap and towel should be al
hand, preferably in tba room or just
outside the door.
IF the patient is fevprish doctor
should be called, and this should bt
donn IN any case If the patient appears
very sick, or coughs up ninkish (blood
stained) sputum, or brs,thes rapidly
and painfully.
''Most Of the patients cough up con
| siderable mucus; in some, there il
| much mucus discharged from the noSt
| and throat. This material should no
be collected in handkerehiefs, BIZ
rather in bits of old rags, or toilet pa
| per, or on paper napkins. AS soon a
used, these rags or papers should b.
| placed in Il paper bag kept beside tli'
bed. Pocket handkerchiefs are out o
| place in the sick room and should no
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 be light
Milk, soft-boiled egg, some toast 0
crackers, bit of jelly or jam, stewe
fruit, some cooked cereal like oatmea
hominy or rice-these will suffice i
most cases.
Comfort of Patient.
THE comfort of the patient depend
on a number of little things, and thes
should not be overlooked. Anon
these may be mentioned a well-vent
lated room; thoroughly clean rs
| with fresh, smooth sheets and pillou
cases; quiet, so that refreshing slee
may be had; cool drinking water COZ
veniently placed; cool compress
the forehead if there is headache
!. keeping the patients hands and fac
clean, and the hair combed; keepin
his mouth clean, preferably with som
pleasant mouth wash; letting the pi
tient kaow that someone is within cal
but nue annoying him with too muc
fussing; giving t9s s,atsaot pisnty /
Opportunity to rest and sleep.
so much for the patient. 1t
equally important to consider the pc
son who is caring for him. 1t is in
portant to remember that the disea:
is spread by breathing germ-laden ma
ter sprayed into the air by the patiel
in coughing or even in ordinary breat
ing. The attendant should therefor
wear gauze mask over her mOu
and nose while she is in the sick ROOF
Observe Cleanliness.
1.-THE attendant should. If possibl
wear washable gown or an aprt
which covers the dress. This will NAL
it much simpler to avoid infection.
1T Is desirable that all attendan
learn how to use a fever thermomete
This is not at all difficult matter, al
the UFe of such Il thermometer is
great help in caring for the patien
'In closing, and lest l be misundG
stood, | wish to leave one word
caution: If in doubt. call the doctor