Show DOCTORS DOCTOR CALLED WITHOUT CAUSE coluse imperative that physicians and nurses not be S summoned u unless Ne necessary cesary PROPER CARE OF PATIENTS surgeon general blue tells what to do for persons sick with spanish influenza use usa oi of gauze masks recommended washington in an effort to reduce unnecessary calls on the overworked over worked physicians throughout the country because of the present epidemic of influenza flu enza surgeon general blue of the united states public health service calls upon the peonie of the country to learn something about the home care of pai patients lents III with influenza physicians everywhere have complained about the large number of unnecessary calls they have had to make because of bf the inability of many people to distinguish between the cases requiring expert medical care and those which could readily be cared for without a phy physician with influenza continuing to spread in many parts of the coun try and with an acute shortage of doctors and nurses everywhere every unnecessary call on either physicians or nurses makes it so much harder to meet the urgent urge nt needs of the pat patients tentA who a are r e 8 seriously ill present generation spoiled the present generation said the 8 surgeon general has been spoiled by having had expert medical and nursing care readily available it was not so in the days of our grandmothers when every good housewife was expected to know a good deal about the care of aba sick every person who feels sick and appears to be developing an attack of influenza Indu enza should at once be put to bed in a well ventilated room it ff his bowels have moved regularly it la Is not necessary to give a physic where a physic Is needed a dose of castor oil or rochelle salts should be given the room should be cleared of all unnecessary furniture bric a brac and rugs A wash basin pitcher and slop bowl soap and towel should be ut at hand preferably in the room or just outside the door if the patient Is feverish a doctor should should be called and this should d be done in tiny any case if the patient appears very sick or coughs up pinkish bloodstained sputum or breathes rapidly and painfully most of the patients cough up considerable sid erable mucus in some there Is much mucus discharged from the nose and throat this material should not be collected in handkerchiefs but rather in bits of old rags or toilet paper or on paper napkins As soon as used these rags or papers should be placed in a paper bag kept beside th the e bed pocket handkerchiefs are out of place in the sick room and should not be used by patients the rags or papers in the paper bag should be burned the patients will not be hungry and the diet should therefore be light milk a soft boiled egg some toast or crackers a bit of jelly or jam stewed fruit some cooked cereal like oatmeal hominy or rice these will suffice in most cases comfort of patient the comfort of the patient depends on oa a number of little things and these should not be overlooked among these may be mentioned a well venti room a thoroughly clean bed with biresh resh smooth sheets sheet sand and pillow cases quiet so that refreshing sleep may be had cool drinking water conveniently placed a cool compress to the forehead it if there Is headache keeping the patients hands and face clean and the hair combed keeping his mouth clean preferably with some pleasant mouth wash letting the patient know that someone Is within cull call but not annoying him with wath too much fussing giving the patient plenty of opportunity to rest and sleep it Is advisable to give the sick room a good airing several times a day so much for the patient it Is equally important to consider the per dpn oun who ts Is caring aarink for him it Is im dormant to remember that the disease is a spread by breathing germ gem laden matter sprayed into the air by the patient in coughing or even in ordinary ord luary breach 1 I ing n g the attendant should therefore wear a gauze mask over her loutit a and nd nose w while hile she Is in the sick room such a mask Is easily made by folding a piece of gauze chuze four fold sewing it piece of tape at the four corners and tying the upper set of tapes over the ears the lower set around the neck inthe if the folded piece of gauze Is about six inches square it will nicely cover both mouth and nose such cueli a mask can be worn without dlF discomfort comfort for several hours after which it con can be boiled in water dried and used over observe cleanliness the attendant should it if possible wear a washable gown or an apron which covers the dress this will make it anich simpler to avoid infection ili it Is desirable that all attendants lenn learn how to u use a fever thermometer this Is not at all a difficult matter and the use of such a thermometer is a great help in caring for the patients the drug druggist who sells eters will y bo be glad to show how they are used in closing and test lest I 1 be wi misunderstood I 1 nish to leaverne lea leave veene one word of caution it if in doubt cull the doat doctor r |