Connecticut western news., 1881-06-29
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Care Of the Sick.

The first duty when person is sick is to send for responsible and reliable physician. In case such physician is not to be had readily the following hints may be found useful:
 First on the list is a good bottle of camphor Cthe gum cut with alcohoD for use in case of headache, faintness, or if one is hurt or stung by bees; taken in small quantities for pain in the stomach, it gives geat relief, but one must be very careful how they use it. If taken in too large quantities, camphor, or the gum either, is very dangerous. Never wet the hair with it for headache, or the result will be that the hair will fall out, which would be very unpleasant, to say the least; but bathe the temples, fore head, and back of the neck with 1t (cam- phor), then wet cloth in hot water and lay over the forehead and eyes, also soak the feet in hot water. Then keep patient quiet. If your headache is not very obstinate it will be persuaded to desist. This treatment will greatly relieve sick headache, and sometimes cure, as the soaking of the feet relieves nausea of the stomach.
 If you have a sore throat, slight or serious, piece of camphor gum as large as pea, kept in the mouth until dis solved, will give relief and ofttimes cure. It is said by good authority if the gum is used in season you will never have dipptheria-it is 8 good preventive. My second best remedy is magnetic oint- ment for outward application; for sore throat, sick headache, earache, burns, scalds, cuts, wounds, and inflammation, etc., and it cannot be equaled Gin my estimation). I would not be without it an hour and feel safe.
 Then there is the indispensable pain killer. There are several kinds which are good. We use it for all kinds of aches and pains. A teaspoonful taken two or three times day in case of dys- entery is very beneficial. also keep laudanum, quinine, and some mild cathartic around. With the above I feel quite safe, even in cases of emer- gency. A small piece of cotton saturated with laudanum and placed in an aching ear, or the cavity of an aching tooth, with hot flannel cloth placed to the face, often gives good nights rest, which, if omitted, would cause great suffering and loss of sleep.
 One or two grains of quinine, taken just before each meal, will give an appe- tite and often throw off fever, if taken in tune Gan ounce of preventive is worth a pound of cure, any time) and when 8 person has bad taste in the mouth, feels loss of ambition, chills creeping over them, and desire to yawn often, know of nothing better than quinine taken as directed above. Always take mild cathartic at the time; this will cleanse the system ofttimes, without the aid of other medicines.
 It is very hurtful to let sick person drink much cold water at one time, even if they are not very sick; some warm drink or cold corn, or crust coffee (toast- ing the corn and crusts) can be drank with good results. My rule is, if they must have cold water, I take them just what I am willing they should drink, be it ever so little, and no more, and say to them drink hearty, and smile, if the quantity is very small, and if they are able, it will provoke smile in return.
 If the patient has burning fever, take an earthern wash-bowl, fill two thirds full of tepid water, in which put one tablespoonful of common baking soda; then bathe the face, body and limbs freely with it and wipe dry. This treatment for fever was learned from one of our best physicians.
 I have found it invaluable that the sick room should be well ventilated. Great care should be taken to keep everything in neatness and order; by emitting to do so the patient is worried, becomes fretful, and great harm is done.
 Always keep the feet warm and the head cool as possible. Never allow a sick person to ask the second time for anything; attend to their wants immedi- ately; if you do think they are whimsi- cal, it is privilege they have, and, in fact, about the only one they do enjoy:
 Never ask sick persons what they want to eat, and never bring them three times more than they want or ought to eat; this often causes nausea. Prepare something light, palatable and nutri- tious, and if they have expressed desire to eat be as expeditions as possible or they will change their minds, whereas, if they could have had something at the time they would have eaten it. Never allow yourself to talk in a discouraging mann CT to the sick if there is any chance for recovery; do not talk much anyway, it is apt to make the patient nervous. The nurse should always move noise- lessly about the room, taking care not l to come suddenly up to the bed, espe- cially if the patient is in doze; it will cause sudden spring and get the nerves all unstrung. Try to be cheerful at all times. Converse on pleasant subjects and do whatever needs to be done cheer fully and willingly.
 Keep three rolls of old pieces of cot ton, woolen, and linen for use in the sickroom. In times of health always be prepared and preparing for sickness and accident with all things needful. All clothing and clothes used should be thoroughly aired. A pretty bouquet or a nica rlant in fha sick rnnrn will ofton