The Yale expositor., 1918-10-24
PHYSICIANS ARE
CALLED TOO SOON
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 II Imperative
That People Learn Something
Of Care of Sick.


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 States public health service
calls upon the people of the country In
learn something about the home care
of patients i'll with infipenza. 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
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 II so much harder to
meet the urgent needs Of the patients
who are seriously Ill.
Present Generation Spoiled.
1.-THE present generation" said the
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 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 well-ventilated room. If his
bowels have moved regularly. 1t is not
necessary to give physic; where Il
physic is needed, dose OF castor oil
or Rochelle salts should be given.
1.-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 or just
outside the door.
IF the patient is feverish a doctor
should be called, and this should be
done in any case If the patient appears
very sick, or coughs up pinkish (blood-
stained) sputum, or breatheS rapidly
and painfully.
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
rather 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 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. soft-boiled egg, some toast or
crackers, 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 a number of little things, and these
should not be overlooked. Among
these may be mentioned a well-venti-
lated room; thoroughly clean bed
| with fresh, smooth sheets and pillow
cases: quiet, so that refreshing sleep
may be had; cool drinking water con-
vehiently 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
| fussing; giving the patient plenty OF
opportunity to rest and sleep.
$50 much for the patient. 1t is
equally important to consider the per-
son who is caring for him. 1t is inn
portant to remember that the disease
is spread by breathing germ-laden mat
ter sprayed into the air by the patient
| in coughing or even in ordinary breath
| ing. The attendant should therefore
wear a gauze mask over her mouth
and nose while she Is in the sick room.
Observe Cleanliness.
"The attendant should, II possible,
wear washable gown or an apron
which covers the dress. This will make
II much simpler to avoid infection.
1T Is desirable that all attendants
learn how to use fever thermometer.
This is not at all difficult matter, and
the use of such thermometer is n
great help in caring for the patients.
"In closing, and lest l be misunder-
stood, / wish to leave one word OF
caution: II in doubt. call the doctor"