Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1920-02-16
HOME EXPERT GIVES
TIPS ON TREATMENT
Of FLU PATIENTS
LETiN EXPLAINING THE BEST
METHOD OF TREATING SUFFER.
ERS-FOOD MUST BE CLOSELY
GUARDED.

Light feeding OF all Influenza pa
tients, or those who are sunerlhB
from heavy colds. is urged by MISS
Helen Glotielter County Home AL
visor, in an article compiled by her'
on home nursing. Miss Glotfel,er
advice. which will be of great bene-
tit in homes where members OF the
family contract the disease, is pub
lished in full below
Food for Cold and Influenza Patients.
During the influenza epidemic of
l9lS-l9l9 much new knowledge was
gained in the treatment OF influenza
and common colds.
I'm many instances what was
thought to be- only slight cold, or
IA touch of the flu". resulted in
something more serious, which gay
the physician IA hard fight before 1t
was conquered Many of these cases
ii cared for in the beginning would
have left the physician free 10 care
for more serious cases.
"A few general directions for car.
ing for colds, and threatened intlu
en2a are outlined below, with special
reference to food
intestinal Elimination One Of the
first things to be done when n cold
threatens is 10 secure bowel move
ment as soon az possible. NOnStipa-
ton Is one Of the greatest allies of
disease, since il lowers vitality and
is OF itself an Objectional condition
"ReSt-Fe OF us know " zen to
quit said a prominent physician, IF
when We are threatened with a cold
We would go TO ned immediately,
and stay there until We are Well. We
would be much better off financially
as well as in health.
"Bathing-A health specialist said
"A daily bath either in cold or tepid
water is one OF the greatest cold
preventions" Bathing stimulates the
body to be more resistent to disease.
Cold baths ard invigorat!ng, while
hot baths debilitate ii taken often In
case OF colds, care must be taken that
the body does not become chilled af.
ter the bath.
Fresh Air-Staie, fowl air Is anoth.
er ally OF influenza Open the win
dows and let in as much fresh air as
possible Protect the patient from
drafts.
Food The old adage Feed a
cold and starve IA fever" is much out
OF date. A cold is one form Of fever
Colds and similar maladies of
short duration are conquered much
more quickly by feeding the patient
lightly. and using strength for fight
ing the disease, rather than for d.
costing unnecessary or rich foods
An emminent authority on feed
ing the SICK says, The cases for
which a liquid diet is suitable are the
acute. uncomplicated fevers OF short
duration, In this group we include
the acute infections OF the upper air
passages. tonsilitis. cold in the head
Influenza. bronchitis. pneumonia, etc
by liquid diet such as prescribed
for any of the above diseases when
there is fever. is meant such food as
milk. fruit Juice tunfermented.D
clear soups. without fat. buttermilk
These foods are usually given on a
two hour schedule
Liquid diet does not overtaX the
heart and digestive organs as do
heavier foods. In this way the body
energy may be devoted to conquering
the disease
Several physicians of experience
have secured the best results in cases
where the fever was above leo de
grees, with diets of fruit juices. broth
and water exclusively.
Loss of appetite IS natures way
OF suggesting light diet, and while
of itself is symtom, it is one which
should be needed In such cases it is
unwise to force the patient to eat
However, plenty Of clean fresh water
is beneficial as it tends to reduce the
fever.
Sometimes the chief difficulty with
food comes with the cOnvalescent
patient. or patients with no fevers
In many such cases the loss of an.
petite does not occur. and the patient
wishes to eat tempting foods. light
diet, or a diet of easily dgested foods
is best.
The result Of eating rich foods
may he seen in the following in
stances which occurred in LaSalle
County last year. A boy of about
twelve was very i'll with Influenza
temperature had been up to 1902 de.
grees but with careful nursing it had
been reduced to normal. The nurse
when she left to go to another more
serious i'll patient, left instructions
not to give him anything to eat, and
only milk water and broth to drink.
"The mother was i'll in bed. and
when the father came home from
work. the boy complained that he was
hungry and his sister would give
him no real food. In spite of the
doctors and nurses orders the father
said the boy should have something
to eat. He made the boy fried egg
sandwich. Next morning the boys
fever had returned and was higher
than ever, and tho he eventually re.
covered, his life was deapaired of for
several days"
Tomorrow two days menu for flu
patients as prepared by Miss Glotfel.
ter will be published in the Free Trad.
er Journal.
Notice, Real Estate Men,