Salt Lake Telegram | 1937-02-16 | Page 18 | Give Physician Plenty of Time to Check Ills

Give Physician Plenty of Time To Check His By OLTVX BOBEBTS BABTOIT "Send for the doctorMs aneay thing to say. Tet a mother will hesitate to call for medical advice when svery penny counts. She hesitates, hesi-tates, and often too long, to have that sore throat looked at, or the chronic tiredness or loss of weight looked after, or the perpetual headache, head-ache, or any symptom that in her heart, she knows needs expert and Immediate attention. When, exactly, should she call the doctor? t To begin with, mothers learn to know their own children. Indeed, sometimes they know them too well. They get accustomed to the pallor, or the recurring coughs, or the repeated retchings. However, there are a few rules that might be a general guide. First of all. every home should boast a clinical thermometer. It can be bought for a dollar or so at any drug store and Is easy to read and care for. . Any temperature over M should be the signal for medical attention at once. Or, if day after day it runs consistently over M s-fi, the reason should be analysed. This is the normal temperature of the average human. Babies sometimes run higher, high-er, but again, this needs to be checked. - 8econcVanninessUiar"persisU unusually long cannot be diagnosed at home. The sore throat that runs over a day or so must have the professional eye. Or any pains that don't glvs way to reasonable home treatment very soon. Or coughs that linger, especially when accompanied by fatigue or flushed face or retching. retch-ing. Once I let a sore throat go until the third day. It waa diphtheria. Once I let another sore throat go for two days. It was scarlet fever. I put the time limit very low here, because experience haa taught me. The underpar child, who Isn't enjoying en-joying life one bit needs to be thoroughly examined. Be sure he must have help. He ought to be eating, sleeping and gaining in weight, even though elowly. Maybe It Is Infection In head, or throat, or teeth, or something else that Is sapping his strength and happineea. If there Is an epidemle near, and Illness occurs, I should have a doctor at once. It Is the only thing to do. A child's Ufe is a child's life, and every doctor puts it first, although he should be paid some time, and as sono as any bill can be met Too often he has to wait after all the others, which is not quits fair. These things must be worked out between you and him. Be honeet with him. Don't be afraid to talk to him. There should be no such thing as false pride between parent and doctor, when a child'a future and perhaps life Is at stake. At present It Is the only way I see. Free clinics are available, but are overburdened. Every budget should If possible Include In-clude a percentage for illness. It Is more Important than movies or the latest styles in clothes.