The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-09-11
THE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE
AND TYPHOID FEVER
49, - rTaaltt,4

From State Dept. of Health.
Due to carelessness in drinking |
polluted water, or in eating foods
that have been rendered unsafe by
typhoid carriers and to disregard
of the protection that is afforded by
vaccination against typhoid feverI
there was marked increase in the
cases of the disease reported to the
State Department of Health during
August of the current year as COM
pared with the cases that occurred
during the same month, last year.
Reports from the Department show
that 1877 cases were. reported in
August of the present year In COM
parison with 1876 in August 1924.
In every county where there is
public health nursing service, val
liable aid is given by the nurses in
combating the disease and in pre-
venting its spread.
In outlining the procedure ap-
proved by the State Depart
ment of Health, and followed by
the nurses, Miss G.. Ethel Monroe,
State Advisory Nurse said, "the
plan in general is very much like
that observed in the fight against
tuberculosis. Here again, the activ-
tiles of the public health nurse, are
largely educational and instructive.
The public health nurse shows some
responsible member of the family
the person who is doing the actual
nursing, how to give the bedside
care, the baths and treatments that
are necessary for the care of the
patient, and at the same time she
shows what measures must be taken
to prevent the spread of the disease
to others.
| The State Department of Health
requires physicians to report all
cases of typhoid fever in their prac-
tlce to the Bureau of Communicable
Diseases. The nurse in the county
IN which the patient resides is
notlned OF the presence of the case
through the Deputy State Health
officer With the permission of the
FAMILY physician the nurse visits the
patent and demonstrates to the
member of the family or other per-
son VINO is caring for the patient
the proper arrangement of the bod
room to facilitate ease in caring for
Inc patient; she shows her how -
give bed-bath without undue eyer
.ion on the part of the patient. IL
,ce sponges are ordered by the doc
.or sne shows how they are 10 he
siVen, warning the one who 10 10
lug tne nursing of the dangers to
LOOK Tor and to overcome.
because the germs of tvnbo,a
aIsei are carried in the bodily dis
charges OF the patient, the nuh1io
Meath nurse gives instrnctiona ~
'ne proper disinfection and disnosa,
- such discharges. She nrgas
s1leening the home against aias
'nat may walk about germ @1adan
piiVies and barnyards and hrin
sefm laden filth into an otherwise
clean home. She advises averv
niehlDer OF the household to wash
me hands thoroughly before nre-
9aring or eating food. When onan-
Jug wells are the source of 49,
! Thinking water supply, the nurse
polnts out the possibility of con-
!. summation OF the water supply nv
SURFACE drainage from cesspools
or barnsyards, especially followine
! heavy rains. 9
Since typoid fever may be trans
mltted from one person to another
oy an individual who harbors the
: germ, but who is not himself ill of
the disease (such person is called
"carrier') the nurse arranges for
necessary specimens from all such
suspects to be sent to the State
; meteorological Laboratory in order
hat diagnosis may be definitely
made.
Finally, she follows the lead of
the doctor in urging all who come
IN contact with typhoid patient to
submit to the vaccine treatment
which protects or immunizes +"
against typhoid fever, reminding
hem that the vaccine is furnished
Tree of charge by the State Depart
4 ment of Health and is available upon
application to their physician or to
either the State or County Health
officer
TO summarize. few of the sug-
gestions nurse will give when
visiting typhoid case are:
Look to your doctor, not to the
neighbors for advice.
/ Carry out his orders for isolation
md disinfection.
Urge every one in the family and
the community to take the treatment