MY CHILD HAS A .
R.A-. Underwood, M.D.
How many times dees a physician
hear* these words from a w Tried,;
anxious voice over the telephone;,
in the office, or nt the home.’
Parents and friends s metirr.es
think the doctor is net sufficient
ly impressed by the existence of
the fever when he calmly goes about
a routine physicaL-examinati^n of a
flushed and feverish child. The
fact that a fever is nature's meth
od of combating trouble, and that
within certain limits it is bene
ficial, should be understood by
those undertaking the care of the
sick.
The germs' ass'o'clated with disease
liberate' poisons which circulate in
the blood through the body, causing
aches, pains', and other sympt ms.
In order f-r the body to overcome
and destroy those germs, various
antibodies must be-formed. Fever,
or elevation of body temperature,
facilitates and speeds up this wend
erful protective mechanism.
The temperature chart or record
kept at regular intervals is ex
ceedingly useful for diagnosis and
to enable the doctor and nurse to
follow the progress of the disease.
There are diseases which have dis
tinct and different characteristic
temperature curves. Those moan a
great deal in guiding the me treat
ing the case.
The temperature that goes above
104#or 105'F. an^ remains high over
a period of several hours an^ days
should be reduced by such measures
as cool rr tepid sponge bath and
cool enemas, for harmful effects
may result from a long-continued
fever. When the rdinary fever of
short duration, which accempsn'ies
most dis rders, is allowed to run
its course and to accomplish Its
purpose, the duration of the ill
ness will be shortened and recovery
hastened.
Much fluid in the form of water,
fJ*v>it juices, or soups should be
taken during the course of a fever
to aid in elimination of body waste
and the toxic products of disease.
Dehydration, 'or shortage ~f -water
in the body, can be responsible for
the production of a fever. When
circumstances are of such a nature
that only small amounts of fluid
can be retained, it may be given
frequently at half-hour intervals.
When a fever develops and per. -
sists, ’the cause should be ascer
tained. The infection, should it
be local, may need to be followed
by medical or surgical treatment
appropriate for the condition. Most
abcoss conditions clear up s*un
after adequate drainage is estab
lished .
In small children, care sh uld be
taken at the onset of a fever to
keep them warm,-f.'r in place of the
chills often felt by an adult soon
after a fever begins, twitchings
and sometimes convulsions develop.
Only after the temperature is fully
developed may cooling measures be
used. Those sick with rapidly ris
ing and falling temperatures es
pecially sh uld be watched to a
v id these convulsive attacks.
The rule to be foil, wed i ordin
ary sickness is net to permit the
patient ut of bed until at 1. ast
one day after the temperature has
returned* t'. normal. In ccrt* in
cases, such as those convalescing
fr m tuberculosis or diphtheria,
much longer bod rest is required.
To be up and about when me has a
fever is false economy, and will
prolong disease, and may cause per
manent harm to the body.
The next time you see a fever,
don't fight the fever, help the
fever fight the disease. It is a
natural reaction of the body in its
fight against germs, toxins, or
other harmful substances. Frsperly
handled, the fever may be the pa*
tient’s best friend.
Mrs. Samuel Hanson, of Filet Pt.,
left the II spital fra few weeks
stay with her son, Victor Fans on of
Anchorage.
Alfred H-velan, of Eska, spent 4
days in the Hospital f "r the treat
ment cf septic sore throat.
To meet requests for incr used
production, the most important
thought for every farmer is how he
can harvest the largest err- next
fall.
"Other things are important, but,
as with the fighting men, tlore is
^ne special job which is most im
portant, in the Valley, ours is
production.
Our (acreage and seasons are lim
ited; perhaps so' are our t Is and
finances. If we use what w- hove to
the best advantage, wc still have
en ugh manpower to farm ev< ry pro
ductive acre in the Valley, and do
a good job- a bettor job than we
have ever done before.
Per every farmer who is pinched
for labor, time, money or machinery
there Is some other who, within our
present limits, can help him. This
year of 1943, will be the best pos
sible time to learn the full value
cf cooperation.
R. Snodgrass,