The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-09-08
Nursing the Sick.
RY FAITH ROCHESTER,.

BY FAITH ROCHESTER,.
No woman has all the womanly accom-
plishments who is unqualified to make her
presence in the sick room blessing to the
sufferer. All rules for behavior toward
sick or well may be summed up by the
Golden Rule-dO as you would be done by
but IN the absence of experience it is
we'll to have some definite directions.
You can hardly be too careful about
neatness and order. The sick-ro0m should
be kept perfectly tidy. Especially should
all soiled garments and utensils be re-
moved and cleansed before second use
The towels and napkins should be clean,
and the food offered should be arranged
to please the eye. If any thing is askew
about the curtains or table cover or rugs,
straighten it at once, or the invalid will
have to do it mentally over and over
again. To prevent the patient from hunt
ing out every case OF bad matching IN the
figure of the wall paper, or wearing the
m nd with observation of every defect In
the furniture, bring in fresh bouquets .of
flowers or other objects upon which the
eye loves to linger. Think of this In ar
ranging your dress. Avoid glazing colors
and noisy fabrics, and put on your gar,
ments with care. The patients bed
possible. Straighten the coverings and
smooth the pillows quietly, whenever
they get disOrdered, and in making the
bed at the regular periods, do it with care
and thoroughness If it is impossible to
change the bed linen daily, try to have
two sets and alternate their use, so as to
have each set aired well when taken OIL
at night and morning.
Lei all the work of the sick room be
done unostentatiously, so that to the pa
tent, everything will seem to be moving
along smoothly and easily. Do not ques-
ton invaliGs when you can avoid it. Get
your directions from the physician in at
tendance, and carry them out without
criticism. If you give medicine, be
punctual, and say nothing about it until
you have it neatly prepared, and after
wards put cups, spoons and phials out OF
sight. Keep medicine beyond the reach
OF children.
In giving baths, be gentle but use SO
firm hand that your patient will under
stand that you are self possessed, and
need feel no concern. In giving the pa
tient general sponge bath, wash only
part at time-an arm for instance-and
wipe it before proceeding further, keeping
the rest of the body covered. Do not use
water that is uncOmtOrtably cool to the
invalid. If the feet are cool, Warm foot
bath is very comforting, and may be
given to the patient in DeO, by using a
small, shallow tub, the sick person lying
on the back with the knees bent-keep
ing the whole covered with blanket;
and after leaving the feet in the warm
water about fifteen minutes, rub with
towel wet in cool water Ito contract the
relaxed pores to their natural state, and
SO prevent catching cOld), and then wipe
well with dry towel. A jug filled With
hot water and rolled up IN flannel is the
best foot warmer to put in bed.
Ii you know what healthtul dishes will
please your patient, prepare them prompt
iy without previous consultation. Oh
serve the Creates delicacy in all this. A
nurse who would taste the invalid food,
or cool il with her breath, ought not TO
be tolerated. Never season an invalid's
food highly, and remember that melted
butter is one of the most indigestible
things you can offer. Cream is better
than butter on toast or roasted potatoes.
There Is some danger of using toast too
freely. 1t is more constipatlng than plain
bread, and person confined to the bed or
to the room is more likely to suffer from
this than one who has ut-door exercise.
Plain, subscid fruit, and bread or gems
made of good Graham flour (minus part
OF the bran) are the best articles of diet;
but a variety can be made by using some
times the various delicate preparations of
starch, tspioca, sage, rice, etc. 1t
is hard tor a sick person to wait
long for food when hungry. Don't
keep your patient aoaiting for any
thing if you can help il. Minutes seem
like hours to an invalid at such times.
Do not rattle your newspaper, nor cleak
your chair, nor wear noisy shoes. Speak
luzgcntlo tones, and do not talk too much.
Do not allow your patient TO talk long at
time, and let the conversation take q
lively turn. Better not discuss diseass.
Do your best to keep long faced visitors
away. Have no whispering in the room
or just outside the door Unless in ex-
IRENE cases, have the room dark and
quiet, and cool at night. Look out for
good ventilation, and air the msttrass and
bedding frequently. Let in all the sun
shine you can without hurting the in
valid's eyes. Be as much of sunbeam as
possible yourself, without being frivolous
and with patience and faithfulness you
may be able to do a great amount of good.
American Agricnltu-Sst.