The Republican., 1925-09-10
The Public Health Nurse and
Typhoid Fever.

luted water, or in eating foods that
have been rendered unsafe by tphoid
carriers" and to disregard of the pro-
lection that is afforded by vaccination
against typhoid fever, there was a
marked increase in the cases of the
disease reported to the State Depart
ment of Health during August of the
| current year as compared 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 comparison with 156 in Au-
gust, 1924.
In every county where there is pub
lie health nursing service, valuable
aid is given by the nurses in combat
ting the disease and in preventing its
spread. In outlining the procedure
approved by the State Department of
Health, and followed by the nurses,
Miss c. Ethel Monroe, State Advis-
ory Nurse, said; "The plan in gem
eral is very much like that observed
in the fight against tuberculosis. Here
again, the activities of the public
health nurse are largely educational
and instructive. The public health
nurse shows some responsible men,
Der 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 practice to
the Bureau of Communicable Dis
eases. The nurse in the county in
which the patient resides is notified
of the presence Of the case through
the Deputy State Health Oficer.With
the permission of the family physi-
clan the nurse visits the patient and
demonstrates to the member of the
family or other person who is caring
for the patient, the proper arrange
ment Of the bedroom to facilitate ease
in caring for the patient; she shows
her how to give a bed bath without
undue eXertiOn on the part Of the pa
tient; if ice sponges are ordered by
the doctor she shows how they are to
be given, warning the one who is do
ing the nursing of the dangers to look
for and to overcome.
Because the germs of typhoid
fever are carried in the bodily dis
charges of the patient, the public
health nurse gives instructions in the
proper disinfection and disposal of
such discharges. She urges the screen
ing of the home against flies that
may walk about germ laden buildings
away from the houses and barnyards
and bring germ laden filth into an
otherwise clean home. She advises
every member of the household to
wash the hands thoroughly before
preparing or eating food. When open
dug wells are the source of the drink
ing water supply, the nurse points
out the possibility of contamination
of the water supply by surface drain
age from cesspools or barnyards, es-
pecially following heavy rains.
"Since typhoid fever may be trans
mitted from one person to another
by an individual who harbors the
germ, but who is not himself i'll of
the diseases (sucha person is called a
"carrier") the nurse arranges for
all necessary specimens from all such
suspects to be sent to the State Bac
THEOLOGICAL Laboratory in order that
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 'immunzes' against
| typhoid fever, reminding them that
vaccine is furnished free of charge
by the State Department 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 a nurse will give when visit
| ing a typhoid case are:
/. Look to your doctor, not to the
neighbors for advice.
2. Garry out orders for isolation
and disinfection.
3. Urge every one in the family
and community to take the treatment
which protects against typhoid.
4. Screen the house and particu-
1 larly the sick room.
5. Install & sanitary privy.
6. Swat the fly.
7. Let one person be responsible
/ for the care Of the sick with others
to relieve as necessary.
s. Do not permit those nursing
the sick to cook for others.