The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1919-01-29
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
influenza-Use Of Gauze
Masks Recommended.

physicians throughout the country be
cause Of the present epidemic of in
fluenza, Surgeon General Blue Of the
United States public health service
calls upon the people of the country tC
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 the inability of many people to dis
| tinguish between the cases requiring
expert medical care and those which
could readily be cared for without q
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 up-
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.
"The present generation" said the
surgeon general, "has been spoiled by
having had expert medical.and nursing
care readily available. 1t was not so
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 wel-ventilated room. If his
bowels have moved regularly, it Ia not
necessary to give physic; where a
physic Is needed, 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 at
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 if the patient appears
very sick, or coughs up pinkish (blOod-
stained) sputum, or breathes rapidly
and painfully.
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 as
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 number of little things, and these
should not be overlooked. Among
THESE may be mentioned 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.
venientl-- placed; cool compress to
the forehead If there is headache;
Keeping the patients hands and face
clean, and the hair combed; keeping
MS mouth clean, preferably with some
peasant mouth wash: letting the ma
tlent know that someone is within call
out not annoying him with too much
1ussing; giving the patient plenty of
opportunity to rest and sleep.
1T Is advisable to give the sick room
a good airing several times a day.
so much for the patient. If is
equally important to consider the nor
~'n who is caring for him. 1t is i'm
portant to remember that the disease
Is spread by breathing germ-la laden mat
.er sprayed into the air by the patient
III coughing or even in ordinary breath
ing. The attendant should therefore,
wear sauze mask over her mouth
ana nose while she is in the sick room
Nuch Il mask Is easily made by folding
d piece OF gauze four fold, sewing a
piece or tape at the four corners. md
tying the upper set of tapes over the
ears the lower set around the NECK
IL the folded piece of gauze is ohout
SIX lhches square it will nicely cover
o"th mouth and nose. Such mask
e"h be worn without discomfort for
several hours, after which it can ba
Doi'ed In water, dried and used over
Observe Cleanliness.
The attendant should, If poss,h,e
wear washable gown or an anron
which covers the dress. This will make
II much simpler to avoid Infection
1T Is desirable that all attendants
lea how to use fever Thermometer
ms Is not at all difficult matter ond
the use of such thermometer ia .
great help In caring for the patients
Inc druggist who sells these thermom'
eters VIII be glad to show how tl,ov
are used '"1S
Vo~l