New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-10-25
DOCTORS CALLED
WITHOUT CAUSE
imperative That Physicians and
Nurses Not Be Summoned
Unless Necessary.
PROPER CARE OF PATIENTS
Surgeon General Blue Tells What tc
Do for Persons Sick With Spanish
influenza-Use Of Gauzs
Masks Recommended.

Washington.-In an effort to reduce
unnecessary calls on the over-worked
Physicians throughout the country be-
cause of the present epidemic of in
fiuenza. Surgeon General Blue Of the
United Safes public health service
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 lal &c number of Unnecessary
calls they have had to make because
OF he inability Of many people to dis
tinguish between the cases requiring
expert medical care and those which
could readily be cared for without 4
physician. With influenza continuing
to spread in many parts Of the
try, and with an acute shortage OF doc
tors and nurses everywhere, every un-
necessary call OF either physicians or
nurses makes 1t so much harder to
meet the urgent needs Of the patients
who are seriously III.
Present Generation Spoiled.
PiCStlll teIltIullOl, Sulu tuo
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 u 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 Il well-vcntilated room. If his
necessary to give II physic; where Il
physic is needed, Il 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 mt
hand. preferably in the room or Just
outside the door.
IF the patient is feverish a doctor
should he called, and this should be
done in any case II the patient appears
very sick, or coughs up pinkish (blood-
stained) sputum, or breathes rapidly
and painfully.
Mos 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
rather In bits Of old rags, or toilet pa
per. or on paper napkins. AS SOC rs
used. these rags or papers should be
placed in II paper bag kept beside the
bed. Pocket handkerchiefs 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.
1.-The patients will not be hungry.
and the diet should therefore be light.
Milk. a %soft-boiled egg, som toast or
crackers, Il bit of jelly or jam. stewed
fruit. some cooked cereal like oatmeal,
hOminy or rice-these will suffice in
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 a well-venti-
lated room; a thoroughly clean bed
with fresh. smooth sheets and pillow
cases; quiet. so that refreshing sleep
may be had cool drinking water con-
%veniently placed; a cool compress to
the forehead If 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
giving the patient plenty of
to rest and sleep.
ut Is advisable to give the sick room
a good airing several times a day.
$50 much for the patient. 1t is
important to consider the per-
who is caring for him. 1t IS i'm
to remember that the disease
IS spread by breathing germ-laden nat
ter sprayed into the air by the patient :
in coughing or even in ordinary breath
ing. The attendant should therefore
YEA u gauZe mask over her mouth
and nose while she is In the sick room. !
Such Il mask Is easily made by folding I
a piece of gauze four fold, sewing a I
piece Of tape at the four corners, and {
-ying the upper set of tapes Over the '
ears, the lower set around the neck. I
Il the folded piece of gauze is about
Xix inches square it will nicely cover I
10Th mouth and nose. Such Il mask =
AN be worn without discomfort for Z
hours, after which Il can be I
in water. dried and used over. !
Observe Cleanliness. -.
''The attendant should. II possible, =
a washable gown or an apron :,
which cover the dress. This will make a
t much simpler to avoid infection. =
1T is desirable that all attendants a
earn how to use a fever thermometer. =
his Is not at all a difficult matter. and !,
he use OF such a thermometer is a .
,reat help in caring for the patients. 4
The druggist who sells these thermOm- =
tiers will be glad to show how they 9
used.
'In closing, and lest / be misunder- y
TODD, 1 wish to leave one word of =
II in doubt. call the DOCTOR" :,