American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-08
Hints for the Sick Room.

| For bed coverings let there be an abun-
dance of soft blankets; always blankets,
! or light soft cOmtOrtables- and thin white
| spreads. Quilts are generally too heavy
for the warmth they impart. Indeed.
even blankets sometimes seem SO heavy
that light bamboo framework costing
So has to be placed in the bed, support
ing the covers in such q way that the pa
tient can move about without touching
them.
By the side of the bed should be placed
table, on which can be kept small bell.
and any triiie which the patient may de-
sire to have within his reach.
A mosquito curtain is indispensable
during one-half the year; for in regions
where mosquitoes are but little known,
flies are apt to take their places, and form
very efficient, Industrious substitutes.
Whatever may be the means of lighting
a sick-room at night, whether gas. kero-
sene oil (which we do not advised, cam
dies, or tapers, screen should be proyid-
ed to keep the glare or the flicker from
the patients eyes.
For heating water. ETC., there are stoves
for both gas and kerosene which answer
an excellent purpose, and can be pur-
chased, according to size and number of
attachments, at prices varying from So to
$50. But these stoves are not always neces-
sary, for there are tiny kettles-sold for
fifty-five cents-which fit over ordinary
gas fixtures: and attachments-tweilty-
five cents each-by which a small cup
may be placed over the top of an Ordi-
nary kerosene burner, and the contents of
the cup brought to the boiIing-point in q
few moments.
When the patient wishes to read, or
otherwise employ his eyes in the evening,
lamps can be placed on the tables SO that
the light shall be behind the paper or
book. Where gas is used, the flame
xy, no ,rnI n n O ar
means of drop-light or argand- burner.
AS the feet of an invalid are nearly al
ways cold. tin hot water bOttle-price
twenty-five cents-or a small OblOng slab
of soap-stone Same price,, which can be
heated on register or stove, should be al
ways in readiness: The latter we cOnsid-
er the best, as the hOt-water bottles have
been known to spring leak, with results
far from delightful.
All such articles, when not in use,
should be stored in light closet adjOin-
ing the sick-room. In the same place
also should be kept supply Of cups and
saucers, plates, tumblers-nOt goblets-
small pitchers, spoons, and small, short
wine-.Iasses. The latter not necessarily
for wine, but they will be found much
more convenient than cups for admins
tering medicines; and patients
ing those too i'll to resist-wil not often
submit to the IS medicine-spOOn,s which
is made of German silver, costing seven
ty-five cents, or of silver, at higher prices.
When it is necessary to pour medicine or
nourishment down the throat of a deliri-
on. or unconscious patient, this spoon
will be found useful, but at other times 1t
is simply detestable.
Glass feeding-tubes can be obtained at
any druggists. By means of these, fluid
nourish lDent can be administered to pa
tients too i'll to raise the head, and who
would be at once fatigued and Disguised
by being fed with spoon.
To other appliances of merely medical
use it is not necessary to advert; but we
cannot avoid mentioning the rubber air
cushions, which are often so useful to the
bed-ridden patient. These may be had of
various sizes and prices, from So upwards,
and are very desirable for patients who
are much emaciated. for those afflicted
with rheumatism, and for those subject to
special local infiammations.-Erch