The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-11-02
Skillful Nursing.

fAithfully to perform this duty to their
girls, let them not forget that good nurs-
ing and delicate care for the sick and
feeble Is one of the most important
duties to be incorporated intimately
with the, whole routine of domestic
knowledge and home duties. The gen.
tls attentions and unwearying patience
90 NECESSARY TO nurse the invalid back
10 hexlth and dostrength in the gentlest,
most unobtrusiye manner, are too little
thought Of; yet courageous and effectual
effort Is among the lessons that a moth
or should begin early to teach her
daughters. A little girl with quick SEN
sibilities, and sympathy for suffering,
will lay these lessons to heart and weave
them in with growing knowledge much
unfolded before her until she had seen
more of the pleasures of life, through
society, and her interest in individny
sufferings had not been brought int
action while more tender and unselfish
be 1t is true that some have no skill or
sympathy with this part of a woman's
duty, and will probably never make
great attainments in this line. But all
ae more reason that, by early training
nd unwearied and patient drilling.
mothers should endeavor that their
daughters should so far attain unto tht
principles of good nursing that the sick
who may be thrown into their care
when they are mistresses of families
shall not absolutely suffer from neglect
and ignorance, or 60 through the slow
starvation that must be their doom ii
surrounded by those who are heartless
through ignorance, and from not Under.
standing some of the simplest rules %
nursing. -.5
One can easily tell il persons have thu.
Instructive talent for nursing by seeing
them for few moments in sick-rooir,
or by the side of one Just entering the
convafescent stage. It is torture, par
icularly TO those much reduced by long
ninessNweak and almost childish
through great exhaustion--to have a
certain class OF persons near them. The
rustic of q silk dress-which should
never be heard in the sick-room anyhow
lis to one very weak almost unendurh-
BILE. Loud talking, sympathy expressed
In an off-hand way, because the callnr
thinks it the proper thing to do, bnt
which has no heart in it, and q long li3t
Of inquiries, rapidly uttered, with no
pause between for an answer: "What's
the matterP What does the doctor say? /?
Have you any appetiteP What could
you relish most-a little soupp some
brothe good bit of hot steakP" etc.
All this ratified on in a way that irritates
and rasps the nerves like the filing of o
saw. In
With transient callers one can bear it,
because such calls are not often long
But If this were the usual tone of every
day, from those on whose care the sick
l. xrror.l1 ha snfr
BILE. However, there is q drop of COM
fort and some compensation in every
dark corner. Usually those who have
no sympathy with the sick or talent for
nursing them are not often tempted TO
enter the room. -.iaEc5 al
One of the most important things to
bear in mind when ministering to the
| sick Is to ask rs few questions as posi-
BILE. Let Judgment, instinct, and close
observation tell IL sponging the head and
hands will be comfort, and, If needed,
do il without asking q question, and do
it gently and noiselessly. Turn the pill
low on which the head lies, or which
may support it In the back of the chair,
or put fresh, cool one in its place while
the one removed is airing. but do it so
softly and with such tender touch that
the patient Is not disturbed. None but
those who have suffered for the lack oi
such grateful, unobtrusiye attentions
! can realize their value and comfort. H
l.. Let one with no knowledge of how to
act come in and attempt these kind
Offices, and mark the difference. With
Q loud voice, and rapid movements,
" Here, lets change your pillow-your
head win be cooler. Raise your head
while I remove it, and give it a good
shaking up," and with energy sufficient
to knead batch of bread the kindly but
too boisterous friend pulls out the pill
! low with q Jerk that sets the head throb-
biug, and with much noise and rapid
/ motion beats and shakes the pillow, and
as roughly pushes it, freshened and
cooled, TO be sure, behind the dropping
head, with q vehemence altogether oui
of place in the sick room. If one could
note the sufferers pulse before this
.smighty rushing mind" swept into the
room, and compare it with what it viii
be after the pillow Is twitched out, and
this energetic shaking up has been ac.
complished, and the victim is permit
ted to lay the head back in peace, she
would readily comprehend the import
snce Of quiet, gentle ways in sick room.
The next important step IL to find
4 hOoOlubcly ucCcoodEI W . nCdtNul
convalescence after q long and protraet-
ing illness. That is Just the time when
the nurses skill and ingenuity will be
taxed to the utmost. To coax the ap-
petite, never ask tie patient what Is
wanted. Bring in some dainty unex.
pectedly. If on first trial it is not salts.
factory, say nothing; do not look or feel
disappointed; quietly remove the dish
from sight, and then try again, prepar.
ing something entirely different, unit
| ct last you hit on something that pleases
the eye and which the stomach will re
tain without any nausea, and then there
| Is an important step taken which tend:
toward rapid and healthy recovery.
\ No professional nurse can for a mo
/ ment be compared with the mistress oi
the family, who has catered for the
| pleasure of her flock for years and
knows each individual taste and pecu,
1 liarity. Taking counsel with the physi.
clan, and learniEs what will be harm.
less, in case the patient fah<;es it, she
win with her own hands, If at all eff.
cient, prepare some dainty form of nour.
ishment, or superintend its being pre-.
pared, watching carefully that nothing
Is scorched. Always remembering
little more sugar or salt can easily be
/ added by the patient II not quite enough
but II too salt or too sweet for the veal
stomach, loves labor is lost and the in.
valid suffers. When neatly prepared
| choose the prettiest bowl or cup, cover
small waiter with snowy napkin and
| quietly bring 1t to the patient. Sit dowr
and gently ask If the repast seems pleas
ant, and can be tasted without any dis.
turbance.
: But suppose this proves a failure
Don't be irritable or impatient, but
i cheerfully, after short time, try some.
thing simple, but entirely dissimilar, ,anG
offer that. 1t will not be long, If patient
and quiet, before the very thing will bs
found.
| + Until similarly situated none can fully
reslize the horrors of convalescence, un
less some good angel, with placid brow