The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-10-17
How to Regulate a Sick Room.

ing conduct in the sick room, we copy from the
Philadelphia Public Ledger:
American "humor," newspaper extravaganza
and "fun" are the wonder Of our transatlantic
friends. The best American jokes, and the
most absurd paragraphs are reproduced in the
English papers, and are even translated into
French and German, when the wit will bear
translation. People who are accustomed to
this sort of play upon words, and extravaganza,
can generally read q truth strongly stated, or
sensible doctrine profounded under the guise of
nonsense. An instance was lately given in
paragraph in the Ledger "Varieties" column.
A watcher called to sit by sick friend is rep
resented to have boistefously tossed his hat into
one corner, and to have distributed his boots in
the same rough manner, with various other
antics, contrary to all the received etiquette of
the sick room. Hereby "hangs tale" That
sick man had suffered under succession OF
lugubrious doctors, friends and nurses, all Ia
boring (unconsciously) to make him feel that
his doom was sealed-that he had no hope
mysterious whispers tortured his ears--whis-
pers really about nothing; catlike steps crept
round his room, and sudden unexpected appa-
ritions perplexed and annoyed him, by coming
without warning, like ghosts from the grave:
All faces round him gathered blackness, and
the whole atmosphere of the sick chamber was
made as funeral as possible-giving the unhap-
py patient the idea that his coffin was already
ordered, if not, indeed, in the house.
At this juncture some sensible neighbor was
called upon-a man with proper understand
ing of the power of spirit over matter, and the
influence Of mind upon the body. He at once,
by the introduction of some innocent, awkward
pranks-not quite so extravagant as represen-
ted perhaps-took the patients mind out OF its
Slough of despond.n The sick man was as
tonished into forgetfulness of his ailments.
Perhaps he smiled He may even have laughed
aloud and if he did it was better than box
of pills or pint of tincture. If people could
only be made to understand it, cheerfulness In
a sick room is fully as essential as medicine.
The face of q nurse or a wife, or daughter,
or doctor, or any other visitor or attendant, IS
studied by the patient as heralding his death OF
prophesying his recovery. The depressing in
fluence of mournful looks cannot be over esti-
mated, and many patient if not actually hur,
ried to his grave, has had his recovery delayed
by depression caused by the sadness of his at
tendants. 1t is common to rity the patients in
| hospitals, because the "offces of affection are
not rendered to them. But when the attendance
of friends and callers forces upon the patient
the endurance of their griefs and doubts IS we'll
as his own, bad influences are created, which
none of the doctors prescriptions can reach,
unless, indeed, he prescribe like once-famous
physician of Philadelphia, now deceased
"Couldnt you find some more people in the
neighborhood to come here and cry?" he asked,
as he entered the sick-chamber; "out OF the
room, all of you'll" A key to the so-called rude
ness of many celebrated physicians is to be
found in their consciousness of the mischief
done with the best intentions and the truest
affections-by friends and relatives who are
o,,a,, ,oro ,oI loco honafiII than the Suffpr-
er himself
1t is rule among physicians never in any
serious case to prescribe for their own families,
| if any other physician is within call. The
skillful doctor will not trust his judgment in
cases where his affection may impair the clear
ness of his observation. The same rule, where
circumstances will permit, should be followed
in the arduous duty of nursing the sick. More
really depends, in majority OF cases, upon the
nurse, who is in constant attendance, than upon
the DOCTOR whose visits are necessarily snort.
| The careful nurse, who understands the duties
of a sick room, is neither deficient in attention
or: oyer-oficious. Of nurses it may be said,
even more truly than of poets, chat they are
born. not made" There are many persons who
have not the slightest fitness for attendance in
q sick chamber, and upon whom no education
| or experience will confer that fitness.
The admission of too many visitors, and OF
persons of tile wrong temperament into sick
rooms, is great disadvantage to the patient.
If he receives train of friends bearing in
their faces the CONVICTION that they have come
''to look their last" he is forced to conclude
that his case is hopeless. All the efforts of
physicians and the Offices of nurses are marred
by the imposition of such depressing influences
upon the patients mind. But it is one OF the
benefcent compensations of the Divine Provi-
dence that the mind Of the sick man is often
in, his bodily debility superior in strength to
the minds Of his grieving friends. We're it not
| for this the unfortunate effects which few pa
tients escape entirely would be greater than
they are, and more frequently fatal. In this
connection it is pleasant to recall the fac: that
the training Of. nurses is made speciality in
the Philadelphia Nurses Home, and is receiv-
ing great attention among religious and philan-
thropic men and women. 1t is branch Of
education as important as any of the objects OF
enlightened charity, and deserves the encour-
agement and support of all classes of people.