The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-01-06
HOW TO COPE WITH IMAGINARY
PERILS

There are a lot of people who have
the temperament Of the old hermit
who complained that his life had
been long series Of misfortunes and
calamities. most of which, he admit
ted, had never happened. People who
are always taking precautions against
exposure to cold are like that.
Here is a mother who is worried
about the imaginary perils to which
her daughter is exposed. Let us see
whether we can't dispel bit of the
gloom.
Dear DR.. Brady:
-. she is just nineteen, work.
ing as technician for physicians
whose practice is largely the
treatment of victims Of syphilis.
Positions are hard to obtain
nowadays and for that reason l
have heSitated the salary is
small but she needs the money
badly.
She has to draw the blood into
the test tube with her mouth
when they are taking a specimen
Of blood for the Wassermann
test.
The risk seems out of all pro-
portion to the benefit she gains
in simply making enough for food
and shelter.
The doctors are Jewish and
she is Christian. l am not quite
sure in my mind why I mention
this fact.
Should she give up the posi-
ton?
tMls. S. A. HI
The universal method of drawing a
specimen of blood for analysis or for
blood count or for test or culture
is by means of pipette into which
the blood Is drawn by suction. But
the doctor, nurse or technician al
ways watches the level Of the blood
as it rises in the pipette COT glass;
and stops drawing when 1t reaches
the precise height needed. The long
flexible rubber tube and the doctors
or technician's mouthpiece can never
be reached by the blood. SO there is
no conceivable risk of infection In
that way.
If the technician or nurse doing
such work for physician is intelli-
gent enough to follow the simple
principles Of aseptic technic, or the
instructions of the physician, the
work is perfectly safe.
Even if the doctors were Republi-
cans and the girl a Socialist, II
wouldn't make any great difference
Health and sickness are the same in
all branches of the so-called human
race.
Indeed, nurses and physicians are
daily exposed to far graver actual
dangers, in the course of their work
Once in a while some nurse or ply
sician falls victim to infection, or tt
the attack of an insane or delirious
patient, or-and this is the most de-
plorable of all-becomes the prey OF
a criminal who enticeS his victim by
appealing for professional aid. This
is one of several minor crimes which
should be punished with death.
In everyday routine the physician
knowing and following the principle.
Of aseptic mot antiseptic) technique
is actually less exposed to the riSl
Of infection or contracting commune
cable disease than is the layman who
Is ignorant of asepSiS. AntiSepsis OF
antiseptic technique means relying
on chemical or other agents which
prevent the multiplication or growth
Of germs; asepsis or aseptic teach
nique means relying on such rigid
cleanliness that the germs do not
gain entrance to the field at all
There is world OF difference. i'm
possible to explain to the uninitiatet
layman In a few minutes, but any
well educated nurse or techniciaI
knows. employs and relies for securi.
ty upon aSepSiS.