The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1875-04-10
II HE FIRESTDE
Nursing tho Sick.

The London Saturday Rerietc, In its
discussion Of domestic topics, has reached
"amatcur nursing" and is sensible aud
pertinent: "fhc tact required for a sick
room differs from all 0tlIcr kinds Of expc-
ricnce. Amateur nurses seldom possess
1t. Now and then Il lady is to the man
ncr born, and without instruction or prc
vious experience, blossoms into full
grown nurse at n moments notice. The
doctor who finds ono ready in house, re-
Jnices heartily. His own credit, rs well
rs the recovery of his patient, Is probably
assured. Seldom, however, has fe ihis
good fortune. His orrlinafyY experiences
! Is very different. If he wishes the sick
| room kept ut certain temperature, he
cannot have it managed. Tho fire is all
ternatcly half extinct and blnzing up the
chimney. There is no care to have il
warm at sunrise and sunset, and moderate
wien the sun IL shining and the mir warm.
lhu invalid is awakened from priceless
sleep hv hearing the cinders fail ON the
unprotected fender, or by the noise of n
clumsy hand putting cn coals, which
might easily have been wrapped in pieces
of damp paper and left ready for use. -.
The morning meal is delayed until the
patient has passed from appetite to faint
ness. Perhaps, when it comes, the tea is
smoked. Household troubles are freely.
discussed III the room. Mary has given
warning because there is so much more
going up and down stairs since missus was
I'LL the cooks so cxtravagant, and ycstcr-
days dinner was spoilt; johnny has cut
his finger, and Lucy has tumbicd down
stairs. Such things are told rs if they
would amuse the invalid. But worse than
this IS the mysterious whispering Mt the
door, and the secrets obviously kent to
excite the nervous patients suspicious.
The irritating creak of dry boot, tile
shuiliing of loose slipper, try sick per-
sons patience unreasOnably; and tho
amateur nurse argues against such silly
fHncies, and thinks they are matters in
winch reasoning can be of any avail. The
unframed nurse never commences her mr.
rangemnnts for the night until the patient
IS beginning to grow very sleepy. She
then arrangcs the pillows, moves the
chairs, stirs the fire, and perhaps makes
up her own bed. Such fuses at sleeping
time produce fever in a most unaccouut-
able way, and the amateur is amazed and
bewildercd because the patient lies awake
all night. Besides all this, and no mntter
how noisy and elaborate the preparations
for the nights campaign, several things
arc forgotten down stairs; no beef teI is
to be had in the middle of the night, no
spoons for the medicine, no boiling water.
Amateurs do not know thut sick persons
should not be asked wlmt they should
have, but should be saved even the men
tai cxcrtion of making choice. How
ever desirable it may be, that they should
arrange their affairs, business matters
should not be discussed before them.
Sometimes man who has not made his
will before his illness, will be anxious and
uneasy until he has made it, and will get
better when the matter is off his mind.
But to arrange such things requires nicely
and tact such rs the amateur, who, per
hnps, shares the sick mans anxiety, can
not show" ......