Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-07-23
Hints on Domestic Nursing.

woman, simply because she is woman
is therefore fitted to take upon herself
the care of the sick. A physician il
not permitted to practice until afte,
long and careful training he has shown
himself worthy to be entrusted with
human life. while any well.meanine
woman, without preparation or expert.
ence. is expected, merely by virtue Of
her sex, to be fully competent to assume
an Office only less responsible than his
In these days, when training-schools
for nurses are connected with many OF
the larger hospitals, and manuals OF
nursing abound, there should be no
lack OF information on the subject; yet
few women think much about it until
the need arises in their own homes, and
then, while intensely anxious to do the
very best for the sufferer, they have
the vaguest idea either of what ought
to be done, or the proper way to do it.
In many cases, recov, ~ depends almost
entirely upon skilful nursing, and doc
tors could tell sad es of valuable
lives lost, humanity speaking, through
the iueificiency of those who, it might
be, would cheerfully have sacrificed
their own to redeem them.
1t is very important that disease
should be detected in its earliest stages;
and while it is absurd to watch the
health too closely and be nsrvously
alive to the slightest variation from the
usu ii state of feeling, taere are symp-
toms which should by no means b.
neglected, and the timely observance OF
which may prevent serious illness.
If there il sleeplessness, a feeling of
weakness and WEAKNESS, pain in the
back or limbs, flushed face, headache
and loss of appetite, the invalid should
have perfect rest, a tepid bath, and
simple, easily-digested food-the less
the better. He should not be allowed
to take any exercise, should be put in a
bed by himself, as much fresh air as
possible being admitted to the room
If the bowels are constipated they ma,
be relieved by an enema of warm Wa
ter, from one to two pints being used
Ii the patient does not improve, the
doctor must be- sent for, with the full
assurance that he is in the most favor
able condition for further treatment.
II the disease is pronounced an in
fictitious enc, every article of the furni.
tare not absolutely necessary, and all
books, ornaments and papers, must b.
removed from the room. If possible
tie carpet should be taken up and the
nangings removed from the windo VS.
AL inner curtain of dark green linen
will be found very useful TO moderate
the light. Except in Cases of injury
or disease of the brain, or in affections
of the eyes, the Sunlight should be
freely admitted.
An open Fireplace is the greatest pos
sible boon IN sick room and the best
promoter Of ventilation. If there il
one fte should be kept constantly
burning in it, or, if the weather is tou
warm to permit this, q few sticks should
be lighted there two or three times u
day. If the house is heated by thai
most detestable, ealth.destroylng in.
vention-a furnace-the bed must be
placed as far as possible from the regis
ter. If the grating is ia the floor, u
tin basin half full of water should be
Kept standing upon it; or if, as is some
times the case, 1t is in the wall, cloths
wrung out Of water should be piuned
in front of it. This must not be don.
without the doctors permission, as III
some cases dry atmosphere is neces
sary.
A thermometer is an indispensable
article; the temperature should be care.
FULLY regulated by it, and kept at from
sixty -eight to seventy degrees, unless
Ot her wise apaciallv OrHarah
Ventilation does not mean exchanging
hot for cold air, but impure for fresh
1t is best effected hy keeping the win
dow farthest from the bed open an inch
or two ut the top. A piece of baize OF
any coarse wooden cloth may be tackled
over the opening to prevent u draught.
Nothing can take the place OF the di
rect admission of pure external air, but
where this from any reason is absolute
~ impossible the windows of an adj
joining room may be raised and the
connecting door opened.
If at any time during the day the
room seems close, it is we'll to swing the
door backward and forward rapidly
several times, first oiling the hiAges
with feather dipped in OIL to prevent
the possibility of creaklng. If the
window is Enclosed few inches, this
will pump the impure air out of the
room and draw in fresh.
Mono but calm, composed, cheerful
faces should be seen around sick bed
1t is difficult to look bright and have \
pleasant smile and CHEEKY word Away.
ready when ones heart is filled witt
torturing anxiety, and one feels that the
Only way to bear the fearful suspense
is in agouizing silence, yet for the suf
ferer's sake it must DO done. No de
pressing influence must come near him
He needs all his strength for the battle
with the disease, and his mind must bt
kept calm and hopeful.
vi course when a person is delirious
or unconscious the case is altered. but
in many illnesses he is neither. Even
when anyone is apparently insensible
the utmost care should be taken not to
express any unfavorable opinion of the
symptoms or to say anything it is unde'
sirable he should hear. Persons are
often fully alive to all that is going on
around them when they are totally I'M
able to move or make their wants
known.
l.