Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-03-04
CARE OF THE HEALTH.

HINTS FOR THE Sick RooM.-Some-
where lately I read that in some coun-
try house, where milk was in plenty, q
pan of it was placed near meat in the
larder to keep the latter fresh. I am
sorry to be so lame in my story, but the
principle to be carried out was that milk,
being ready absorbent, the bad air
that would otherwise have tainted the
meat flew to the milk instead. My
thoughts Immediately reverted to the
sick room, where milk is often left
standing for the use Of the invalid; and
it occurred to me that If this were the
case would it not just as readily absorb
the poisonous exhalations that arise
there? Why, or how, 1 am not chemist
enough to explain, but-as most persons
are aware-water is rapid absorbent of
the faint of paint; and in a room fresh
ly painted, pail of clean, cold water
left standing there will quickly stake
off the smell" Dip your finger into
the water which has been thus left all
night, you will find it tastes strongly of
the paint. Milk is too costly to be thus
largely used, but ittle-say saucer
ful-might be placed for experiment,
and if it tastes of the paint you may
reasonably conclude that it would
taste just as much Certain
ly absorb just as readily of
whatever impurities hang round a sick
bed, when left standing near it. Let
me impress upon invalids the import
ance of keeping their refreshments
covered. Many delicate persons not
absolutely in need of night attendance
yet require supply of night nutriment.
1 know of an Invalid Home where al
most every patient is regularly supplied
with glass Of milk at the bedside for
night use. Then there are cooling
drinks, jellies, blancmanges, and a
variety of liquids usually seen at the in
valid's bedside, and all more or less
absorbent. All should be kept COW
cred. I once visited an invalid who had
her bedside table supplied with an
array of glasses, cups, tumblers, ETC.,
the contents of not one of which could
we see, all being covered with most
amusing variety of glass and porcelain
lids. The invalid liked to forget the
contents of each, and was amused to
lift one or another of the tiny covers
and select a refreshment which present
ed itself to her taste. And to keep
invalids amused, and ready to relish
what is provided for them, are impor-
tant duties in nursing. Such slight at
tentions cost little trouble, while they
prove to the sufferer that he or she is
tenderly cared for.-LGsad and Water.
DEAFNESS IN CHILDREN.-The ear is
subject to affections that impair its
functions at the earliest period of life;
indeed, it is frequently found to be de-
fective at birth. Children are exposed
to influences from which they seldom
entirely escape without more or less
aural disease. Such are the conse-
quences of colds, which. when of long
continuance, are productive of enlarged
tonsils, chronic catarrh of the mouth,
throat, and nose, the resulting sympa-
thetic deafness in some instances being
SO great that instruction is impossible,
and the child is unable to learn to talk
1t is then a deaf-mute. The fact should
not be lost sight of that at this early pc
riod of existence the function of hearing
is crude, and requires gradual cultiva-
ton for its development, and that any
deafness should be promptly met. Thus
the hearing of children ought to be often
tested, and although accurate results
may be difficult of obtainment, the
knowledge gained is advantageous.
Should an infant escape all other causes
of aural disease, it encounters at the
seventh month physiological process
in development that is frequently the
source of great irritation in the mouth,
and of sympathetic irritation in the ears. |
refer to the cutting of the teeth, which
usually begins at this age. That this
period is fraught with special danger to |
the organ of hearing iswell recognized by
both mothers and nurses, who have
long considered teething as in some
way connected with earache. Every
one of the first twenty teeth in perforat-
ing the gum is liable to be thus herald
ed. Fortunate, therefore, is the infant
who has passed its second year, the
period at which first dentition is con-
Guided, without having experienced
aural irritation. These first teeth, how
ever, are subject to premature decay,
as well as natural absorption of their
roots, before the sixth year, at which
time the second dentition begins. From
his cause sympathetic aural trouble
often arises, and frequently continues
while the second teeth are cutting.
About the sixth year, as stated, the See
ond or permanent teeth begin to make
heir appearance, and at the thirteenth
Cear thew have all hepn cuts With tho