Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 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 to
Do for Persons Sick With Spanish
lnfluenzs--Use Of Gauze
Masks Recommended.

Washington.--In an effort to reduce
unnecessary calls on the ovcr-wOrked
physicians throughout the country be-
cause OF the present epidemic of In
fluenza, 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 i'll with influenza. Ply
eicians everywhere have complained
about the large number of unnecessary
calls they have had to make because
of the inability Of many people To dis
tingush between the cases requiring
expert medical care and those which
could readily he 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 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 tho
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, 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 IN attack
of influenza should AT once be put to
bed In well-ventllated room. # his
bowels have moved regularly, 1t is not
necessary to give II physic; where n
physc Is needed dose of castor oil
or Rochelle salts should be given.
THE room should he cleared If all
unnecessary furniture, bric-a-bruc, and
rugs. A wash basin. pitcher. and Stop
bowl, soap and towel should be ut
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 n 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
he collected in hundkerchiefs, but
rather In bits of old rags, or toilet pa.
per, or on paper napkins. As soon as
used, these rags or papers should be
placed In paper bag kept beside the
bed. Pocket handkerchefs 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.
''rhe patients will not be hungry,
and the diet should therefore be light.
MIX, n soft-bolled egg, some toast or
crackers, n bit of Jelly or jam, stewed
fruit some cooked cereal like oatmeal,
hominy or rice-these will suffice III
most cases.
Comfort Of Patient.
THE comfort of the patient depends
on number of little things. and these
should not be overlooked. Among
these may be mentioned well-vent-
lated room thoroughly clean bed
with fresh, smooth sheets and pillow
cases; quiet, so that refreshing sleep
may be had cool drinking water con
venientl- placed; n 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
tlent know that someone Is within call
but not annoying him with too much
fusslng; giving the patient plenty of
opportunity tn rest and sleep
1T Is advisable to give the sick room
good airing several times day
$50 much for the patient. II Is
equally important To consider the per
'>in who is caring for him. II is i'm
pOrtant 10 remember that the disease
Is spread by breathing germ-ladon mat
Ter sprayed into the mir 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 ny folding
piece of gauZe four fold, sewing II
piece Of tape nj the four corners, and
rying the upper set of tapes over the
ears, the lower set around the neck
II 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 II can he
boiled In water, dried and used over.
Observe Cleanliness.
The attendant should. IL possible,
W mr. washable gown or an apron
which covers the dress This will make
II much simpler 10 avoid infection.
ut Is desirable that all attendants
learn how to use fever thermometer
This Is not at all difficult matter ard
the use of such thermometer Is q
great help In caring for the patients
The druggist who sells these thermnm
eterS win be glad TO show how the!
are used.
IN closing, and lost ! he misunder
stood. wish "a leave one word q
caution: II in doubt, call the doctor