The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-06-08
Farm. Garden and Household,
Care OF the Sick.

SaIe O. tES SICK.
Why should the greatest attention be
paid TO the bed OF Il sick person
Because. as he passes most of his time
in bed and the body is more susceptible
of impressions during the period of sick
ness than at any other time, his present
comfort and future recovery may be great
i influenced by the regulation Of this mat
ten.
Why should attendant upon persons suf-
iering, under contagious diseases wear
glazed gowns and aprons Of oil silk?
Because textures Of WOOL fur, cotton or
amy loose OF d0wDy substance, have capa-
biIiiies OF receiving and retaining the air.
which being charged with poisonous eX-
halations, the infection is by this means
communicated to the body
Why should the curtains of the sick bed,
ur the paper of the sick-room, not have
patterns of prominent or monotonous char
ucter
Because when the eye of the sick per
son is constantly meeting with certain fig
ures his brain becomes disturbed, and his
mind wearied by tracing and following
them
\ gentleman, who was i'll of a low ncr-
yons fever, accompanied by fits OF mental
aberration. would lie in his bed, with his
,yes fixed intently on the opposite wall.
mnttering to himself, Fourteen up, thir-
ly-three across-iouteen up, thirty-three
across" Notwithstanding the best med-
cal advice, and every other effort that was
made for his recovery, he still continued
TO lie in the same dreamy state, uttering
fepeatedly the same words. At length it
struck the physician that the incessant re-
Iteration OF these words must be connect
ed with some image presented to the mind
through the eve, andit further occurred to
ulnl that the paper of the room might ai-
lurd a solution. The pattern Of the room
consisted of lozenge- shaped figures. which
followed each other at regular intervals
Oo counting these, the physician found
nat the number exactly Tailed with the
patients ceasless refrain. namely fourteen
4zengers from the floor to the ceiling, and
ihuty-three from one end Of the room to
tae other Acting upon this discovery, he
Immediately ordered the removal Of the
patient o. another room, where the paper
vas ui 81 totally Iitlerent pattern. This
was lone while the patient WAS asleep,
u when he awoke he commenced me
lanically with fourteen, but suddenly
Stopped, looked puzzled, and then smiled.
llom that moment he never uttered the
III burden, his recovery came gradually
aai slowly, and he finally became conva-
-~ceut This gentleman used aiterward
O. relate that he had an indstinct recol-
oytjuu Of certain figures which commenc-
el with the luzenger form, but afterward
.--uned variety # shapes and colors.
re}er. however losing identity Of NUM-
.yr. namely fourteen up and thirty three
across
Why is wet;ing the fl9or Of 4 sick-room
urous3
Because The slow evaporation from the |
boards operates in the same manner up
.u the surface Of the body as exposure to
lamp or ioggy weather, and the increased
srusitiyeness Of the body to outward intIu- !
ruces during sickness, renders every evil
jlubly dangerous.
Why should glasses from which medi- |
mes have been taken he cleansed when |
Iaev are done with ?
Because many medicines when they are
zpoSed to the air rapidly undergo chang /
s- which alter their properties, and this !
Iteration having been undergone by the
-mall portion which Is always lett in the |
4 lass on cup. communicates the tendency |
81 decomposition 10 that which may be !
-eXt poured into the cup; and thus the
properties OF medicines laay be altered, |
lAd their efficacy wholly neutralzed.
Why is speaking distinctly better than
Whispering in a sick room?
Because whispering stretches the atten-
tloA 10 listen, or else gives the trouble to |
a,5ing what is said; and it may he ipiu- |
nous TO the sufferer by exciting many in
,uicing ideas.