The northwestern bulletin., 1923-08-11
Observation-Disclosures
! Health Talk !
BY DR.. J. w. Crus1p
Observation-Disclosures


Last week we gave little discus
sion upon the modes of transmission
of the bacillus typhosis-or the germ
of typhoid fever, and having briefly
pointed out the way to get the dis
ease, we will now try to give some
advice as to what to do when you
have gotten 1t.
In the first place good nurse is
absolutely essential, a trained nurse
IL possible or at least one who is in
telligent enough to understand and
follow, absolutely, the Doctors or
ders. In this connection 1t is well to
state that members of the family, or
close friends do not make the best
nurses. They are prone to humor the
patient in his whims and may allow
him to do something which may have
serious effect upon the successful
management of the case.
Get a good nurse-then see that
your patient is in a cool, cheerful
room, and, that he is not unduly an
noyed with callers. One of the great
est mistakes that can be made is to
allow number of friends or relatives
to visit the room of a sufferer from
any serious complaint, and by their
conversation and attempts to be of
service, unduly excite and worry the
patient. Permit but few callers and
limit them to ten minutes in the sick
room, since rest and quiet are essen
tial If the victim is to successfully
carry on the battle between his pow
ers of resistance and the poisons gen.
Grated in the system by the typhoid
germ.
Observe scrupulously cleanliness as
to the linen, dishes and discharges
of the patient.
Use a good antiseptic such as Gre
olin, ticresol or lysol in the vessel and
wash all linen and dishes in boiling
water, to which a smaller amount of
the disinfectant may be added.
Be sure to exclude all insects, es-
pecially flies, since these are, as we
have already shown, one of the prime
agencies in spreading the malady.
Typhoid fever lasts usually from
to or weeks, and as the patient is
.subjected to the wasting influence of
the high fever and toxemia or poison
Gus condition Of the blood, we must
be sure to see that he has enough
nourishment to keep his body in con-
dition to fight the infection and re-
gain his health. The old adage,
"starve fever and feed cold" does
not apply here. The patient must
have enough of light, easily digest
ed diet to keep his, strength up to a
point where he is able to combat the
ravages of his ailment. The doctor
in attendance is best able to prescribe
the diet fit the case.
The convalescence from typhoid is
slow and the patient must not be al
lowed to over exert himself before he
has regained his normal strength. Be
guided by your physician.
To those who have been associated
with a typhoid case, modern science
now offers source of protection from
contracting the disease.
This is the form of typhoid vaccina-
ton, or anti-typhoid vaccination as
you prefer.
The method of procedure is simple
The doctor injects into the arm, OF
hip, a serum containing a number OF
killed typhoid bacilli. In ten days he
makes the second injection, but in
creases the number of bacteria. OIL
germs in the serum, and on the day
later gives you a third injection
There may be some fever. headache
and general malaise following the
treatment, but usually it is MOI
enough to cause one to take to the
bed. This protects one for at least
1.-TWO years from infection by the ty.
phoid germ.
The serum treatment has been tried
on patients who were already the vic
Tins of typhoid fever. but the results
are not altogether satisfactory.
think it is generally admitted amont
medical men that the serum treat
ment for typhoid fever is not an un'
qualified success.