, 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
Infiuenza-Use of Gauze
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
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
sicians everywhere have complained
about the large number of unnecessary
calls they have had to make because
of h inability of many people to dis
tinguiSh between the cases requiring
expert medical care Inc those which
could readily be cared for without a
physician. With influenza continuing
to spread in many parts of the coun-
try, and with IN acute shortage of doc
tors and nurses everywhere, every n
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.
1.-THE present generation" said the
surgeon general, has been spoiled by
having had expertmedical 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 influenza should at Once be put to
bed in a we~ll-ventilated room. II. his
bowels have moved regularly, 1t is not
necessary to give a physic; where a
physic is needed, a 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.
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. Az soon as
used, these rags or papers should be
placed in a paper bag kept beside the
bed. Pocket handkerchiefs are out of
Dlaca In tho sick rnom and uhorId mot
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 s%oft-boiled egg, some toast or
crackers, a 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; a thoroughly clean bed
with fresh, smooth sheets and pillow
cases; quiet, so that refreshing sleep
may he 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
fussing; giving the patient plenty of
opportunity to rest and sleep.
at is advisable to give the sick room
n good airing several times a day.
s 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 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.
Such a mask is easily made by folding
a piece of gauze our fold, sewing a
piece of tape at the four corners, and
tying 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 a mask
can be worn without discomfort for
several hours, after which it can be
boiled in water, dried and used over.
Observe Cleanliness.
1.-The attendant should, II possible,
wear a washable gown or an apron
which covers the dress. This will make
1t much simpler to avoid infection.
ut is desirable that all attendants
learn how to use q fever thermometer.
This is not at all a difficult matter, and
the use of such a thermometer is a