Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1882-12-22

The carly part Of con, ,alescencc Is oft
en- trying time TO the feeble invalid
The trends about YOU have herctofor'
been so quiet and anxious and fearful
fearing you were slipping away from
them into tho shadows Of the great un
known, that now. thc crisis past, theiI
light-heartedness. their hustle and talk
their slight relaxing OF attention. Is too
sudden change. and seems toyour fee
bic and weakened senses much like care
lessncss. Indifference and lack Of heart
The only trouble Is, they do not quite
comprehend how feeble and III and
nervous you still are.
Sometimes in this first part Of conva-
lescence that patient who has hereto
fore been quiet rs a mouse. grows all ai
once ''touchy" and hard 70 suit. The
nerves were At first perhaps too weak
to rebel; now they arc jaded and sore,
and no one but those who have had OK
pcricnce can understand how trifling .
thing will hurt and janglc them.
Something similar 10 these expc-
ricnces Is often felt BY the young and
rather feeble mother in the trying alter.
days. When those about her are re-
joicing that 1.-THE worstis over" il often
seems 10 her that the worst has jus. ar
rived, aud she lies with strength spent
and nerves al once weak and tense, and
weighted down with such varied and
accumulated discom:orts as Il seems 10
her she cannot endure. and often. un-
fortunately. with no one about her who
possesses the wisdom TO understand
the miseries Of her case. Under these
conditions all hustle should lc strictly
prohibited; visits to her and the little
stranger deferred; and all cxertion and
anxiety on her part carefully guarded
against. What she Graves Is rest. quiet
and soothing influences. and these she
should have.
With convalcsccncc comes an effort
TO return 10 the ordinary habits Of lifa.
among which Is the habit Of eating. AZ
this stage the nurse re .uires not little
discretion and tact Sometimes the ap-
petite is feeble; sometimes II Is rapa-
cious. and re ,uircs curbing and re-
strainL In the latter case Il Is inju-
dicious and cruel 10 tring within sight
Of the convalesccnt things which cannot
be allowed. or TO bring heaped-up
plates Of goodies and expect self-con-
troll. The better way Is 70 bring into
the sick-ronm at each meal only what Is
permitted.
when The appetite Is feeble. and II Is
desirable that 4 be gently coaxcd. IL Is
Quitc ss de irzbIc that the plates should
NOT b overloaded ~ he ore; an over
flowing cup or pilcd-up platter will
olIen producc the opposite effect from
that desired. and turn what was before
only ndi'ercnce 10 food. into absolute
losihing Of H. II h better. too. not 20
hara<r the patient with questions as 10
whaf would be preferred. but rather
make trial II this and that which seems
suitable; oficn something coming uncx-
pec1edly win relish much better with
(he sick than what is forcknown-
Also it is desirable that the dizhes. OF
some one u them. shall have an agree
able and arpetizing smell This may
pecm foolish and unimportant but II e
- Il scarcely need ke said that each
nrticls shoud b prepared 90 - not
only % have - agreeable taste. but a.
nkrecab1e jojk also; that The dishcz Il |
20 nev. 1l1UuA ~ least Be 1Tee frum
nicka o. crocks; thaf the knives and |
diver s6uuDd Be ehininR. I'D Tie nap
kins cIsan and White C6urlvy 0c~els+