Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1918-11-01
UNNECESSARY CALLS
MADE ON PHYSICIANS
Proper Treatment Of Mild Cases
of Spanish Influenza.
Use Of oauze Masks 10 Recommended
for Those Nursing slck-Hand-
kerchicfs Are Out OF Place
Rest 10 important.

unnecessary calls on the over-worked
physicians throughout the country be-
cnuse Of the present epidemic OF In
i%luenza. Surgeon General Blue Of the
United States public health service
calls upon the people OF the country to
learn something about the home care
OF patients III with Influenza. Ply
sicinns everywhere have complained
about the large number OF unnecessary
calls they have had to make because
Of the inability Of many people 10 dis
tinguish between the cases requiring
expert medical care and those which
could readily be cared for without a
physician. With Influenza continuing
to spread In many parts OF the coun-
try, and with nm acute shortage OF doc
tors md nurses everywhere. every I'M
necessary call on either physicians or
nurses makes II so much harder to
IA 'et the urgent needs OF the patients
VINO are seriously III.
Present Generation Spoiled.
"The present generatlor," said tho
surgeon general, "has been spoiled by
having had expert medical and nursing
care readily available. II was not 30
In the days OF u grandmothers, when
every good housewife was expected to
know n good deal about the care Of the
sick.
EVERY person who feels sick and
appears to be developing an attack
Of influenza should ut once be put to
bed In q well-ventllated room. II his
bowels have moved regularly, II Is not
necessary to give n physlc; where a
physic Is needed, n dose OF castor oil
or Rochelle suits should be given.
"The room should be cleared OF all
unnecessary furniture, bric-a-brac, and
rugs. A wash baslp, pitcher, and slop
bowl, soap and towel should be mt
hand, preferably In the room or just
outside the door.
IF the patient ls feverish n doctor
should be called, and this should be
done In any case II the patient appears
very sick, or coughs NJ plnklsh (blood-
stnlned) sputum, or breathes rapidly
and painfully.
Most OF the patients cough up con-
siderable mucus; In some, there In
: much mucus discharged from the noas
and throat. This material should not
be collected In handkerchiefs, but
: rather In bits OF old rugs, or toilet pa
; per, or ON paper napkins. As soon as
!, used, these rags or papers should he
y placed Ia II paper bag kept beside tho
. bed. Pocket hnndkerchiefs nre out OF
! place In the sick room and should not
be used by patients. The rags or pa
pers In the paper bug should be burned.
"rhe patients viii o be hungry,
and the diet should therefore be light.
/. MIX, u s%oft-bolled egg, some toast or
! crackers, u bit Of jelly or jam, stewed
:, fruit, some cooked cereal like oatmeal,
q homlny or rice-these will suffice in
most cases.
! Comfort OF Patient.
. "rhe comfort OF the patient depends
. ON a number OF little things, and these
y should not be overlooked. Among
;. these may be mentioned a well-venti
= lated room a thoroughly clean bet
: with, fresh, smooth sheets and pillow
cnses; quiet, so that refreshing sleeI
may be had cool drinking water con
~ %veniently placed n cool compress 4
y the forehead II there Is headache
keeping the patients hands and fact
70 the forehead II there II lea ache
elem, and the hair combed keepinI
~ his mouth clean. preferably with som
~ pleasant mouth wash letting the pa
70 tient know that someone Ii within cal
" but not annoying him with too mucI
fussing; giving the patient plenty O
opportunity to rest and sleep.
- ut Is advisable to give the sick roo
~ Il good airing several times a dn,
$50 much for the patient. II
~ equally Important to consider the pei
+" sen who Is caring for him. II Is in
% portnnt 10 remember that the dlseas
-, Is sprend by breathing germ-laden ma
ter sprayed into the air by the patier
-. In coughing or even In ordinary breatl
~ Ing. The attendant should therefor
~ wear u gauze mask over her mout
y" and nose while she In In the sick roon
Such a mask Is easily made by foldln
y. n piece OF gauze four fold. sewing
piece Of tape at the four corners.
~ Observe Cleanliness.
:, "The attendant should, II posslbl
wear a washable gown or an aprc
v" which covers the dress. This will mai
"a II much simpler 10 avoid Infection.
~ at IL desirable that all a~ttendan
~ learn how to use a fever thermomete
~ This IL not nj all a difficult matter, IN
~. the use OF such a thermometer Is
great help IN caring for the patient
The druggist who sells these thermOr
~ eters will be glad 10 show how tht