The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-08-21
THE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE
AND TUBERCULOSIS
rom State Dept. of Health.


From State Dept. of Health.
Because tuberculosis causes more
deaths than any other communicable
disease, in Maryland, every year,
care and prevention OF the great
white plague, have an important
mart in the work of the public health
nurses throughout the State.
"Tbe activities of the pupnc
health nurse, in the fight against
stuberculosis. are largely educa-
tional" said Miss c. Ethel Monroe
the Advisory Nurse of the state De-
partment of Health, in a recen.
interview. "for only through Wen
grounded knowledge Of the disease
can individuals help to COMBAT IT,
Although the program may vary IN
come of the localities, the genera
procedure in this particular neiu
is as follows:
"The State law requires pnysi-
clans to report to the State Depart
ment of Health all cases tney
diagnose as tuberculosis. Tne NURSE
in the county in which the patieh.
.os;das is notified that this patient
Has been registered as a I'D case
and she is asked to visit MIN. one
arst interviews the attending pnysi-
zion obtaining his permission 70
visit the case. When sne gus ~
tbe home, she talks to the patien'
"a tolls him that cure is possiDie
if he plays the game ana car, ies
- tho letter the rules LAID
down by his physician. ao.n,s
A"she tells him that the germs
causing the disease are IN ~.
snutum and the discharges from Inc
nose and that they are scattered W
coughing and sneezing. Sne sno~ ~
him that by the simple methou -
,,ah;ne sneezing, or splitting into
nanar napkin and placing tne
aanl.in in paper bag that can Ne
burned the germs are DESTROYED anu
his loved ones protected. -
.,rbe nurse also points out Inc
necessity for providing separa'e
dishes for the patient and LOT nav ~ =, .
800 aishes boiled after each meal
80 having the patient sleep alone II
-. that is we'll ventilated; anu
For having him remain as muciiN 90
nossible in the open air. she "a
mains the danger in kissing she
nrges the necessity for cleanliness
Nv careful sweeping and busting by
some damp method, and she ADVISES
&C TO the proper disinfectlon OF tne
nod linen. floor, walls, etc. one
leaves at the home a supply Oh 'ne
disinfectant distributed by the ota.e
recruitment of Health and Demon
strates it's use.
1.-THE nurse impresses upon the
natient the necessity OF rest' DIS
ordered by his physician, ana II Tue
doctor has recommended that the
natient be treated in a sanitorlum'
She makes the necessary arrange
ments for the patient to go, olteh
balning to provide the clothes re-
ouired, if the case is needy one.
AFTER the patient has been taken
to the sanitorium, the nurse mas an
equally important duty to perform
for the members of the patients
family or the household in which ne
has been living. Unless great care
H.. ~
IS taken, there is always danger VI
tho snread of the disease to the
other members of the family, espec-
;.l,v m those who have been nursing
the patient. To be sure that ~
unsuspected cases have developed
the nurse arranges with the family
doctor or at the nearest tuberculosis
clinic, for those who have been IN
contact with the patient to be given
careful medical examination
Under the joint auspices OF the Sta'e
Denartment of Health, and the
MARYLAND Tuberculosis Association
clinics for the examination OF per
sons threatened with, ~ suffering
from tuberculosis, are, held in every
county in the state, so that service
of this sort is readily available IN
every section. From January 10
July of this year, $50 cases OF
Tuberculosis were registered from
these clinics.
Taking it all in all the work OF
the public health nurse in connection
with tuberculosis is full Of helpful
ness and hope"