Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-09-15
Nursing the Sick.
by FAITH ROCHESTER,.

No woman has ell the womany accom-
plishments who is unqualified TO make Der
presence in the sick room blessing to the
sufferer. All rsles for behavior toward
sick or well may be summed up by the
Golden Hule--do as you would be done by
but in the absence of experience it liz
we'll TO have come definite directions.
You can hardly be too careful about
neatness and order. The sick room should
be kept perfectly tidy. Especially should
ali sOiied garments aud 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,
straighteu 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 ia the
figure Of the wall paper, or wearing the
mind with observation OF every defect in
the furniture, bring in fresh bouquets ,cf
flowers or other objects upon which the
eye loves TO linger. Think of this in at.
ranging your dress. Avoid glazing colols
and noisy fabrics, and pu. on your gar
ments with care. The patients BED
should be kept as clean and orderly -
possible. Straighten the coverings ane
smooth the pillows quietly, whenevei
they get disordered, and in making the
bed at the regular periods, do it with care
and thoroughness. Ii it 10 impossible To
change the bed linen daily, try to have
two sets and alternate their use, SO sc TO
have each set aired well when taken off
at night and morning.
Let ell The work of the siek.roon be
done unosientatiously, SO that, to the pa.
tent, everything win seem to be MOVING
along smoothly and easily. Do not qges-
ton invalids when you cao avoid it. Get
your directions from the physician In at
tendance, and carry them out without
criticism. IL you give medicine, be
punctual, and say nothing eoout it until
you have it neatly prepared, and after
wards put cups, spoons and phi1ls out Of
sight. Keep medicine beyond the reach
of children.
In giving baths, be gentle but use 60
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 a
part a. a time--en arm for instance--and
wipe it before proceeding further, keeping
the rest of the body covered Do not use
water that Is uncomfortably cool 10 the
invalid. If the feet are cool, warm foot
bath is very comforting, and may be
given TO the patient in bed, by using q
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 a
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 filed with
hot water and rolled up in flannel is the
best foot warmer TO put in bed
II you know what healthiul dishes will
please your patient, prepare them prompt
ly without previous consultation. Oh
serve the greatest delicacy in all this. A
nurse who would taste the invelid's 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 indigestlble
things y0u 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
tbis than one who has outdoor exercise
Plain, subscid fruit, and bread OF, gems
made OF good Graham -four minus pan
OF the braDt are the best articles Of diet;
but variety can be made by using some
times the various delicate preparations OF
starch, tspioca, ssgo, rice, etc. 1t
il hard for . sick person TO wait
long for food when hungry. Don't