The Red Cloud chief., 1882-02-02
SYow TO Care for the Sick.

Some time since We felt moved to make
some suggestion on the Importance OF
endcayorinr to educate our daughters
in the most important parts of sklllful
nursing. Ii i a subject we have much
al heart. for We so frequently see how
many suffer needlcSsly for lack of knowl-
on the part Of those Who have charge 81
the sick. To be sure. many have not
the comfortable appliances that seem
almost Indispensable in the sick room.
In small. cramped apartments it is i'm
possible to do quietly. or entirely II o!
the sick-roOm, much that the invalid
ought not 10 see or hear.
In such eases. patience. endurance on
the par, of the sick and skill on the part
Of tn" nurse, 10 keep all preparations Is
far ~ possible out Of sight, are all that
can be done.
But in comfortable homes, with the
shk-roOm al a distance from the kitch-
Ell. there Is no excuse for many things
that are very annoying. We have
known nurses TO put a saucepan G
the crate in the sick-room To make or
warm over what they intended 10 be
choice dainticS for their patient. But
nothing should be e warmed up.
much less cooked. in the DON Of the
invalid. The sight or smell of the most
delicate dish will be weariSomc 10 Tho
exhausted nerves. and when made l. re-
pul,ivc To the weakened stomach.
Make small me-~c>. Better the pa
ticnt should crave a spoonful more than
revolt al the abundance. Prepare II
far away from the sick room, without a
word Of consultation with any ii cN-
cept the physician. and bring il the mo-
mcnt it i done. Don't lin%er till II
cools or grows stale and in>ipid, and the
little that j. brought should bc prepared
in the ncatc-t, o aitractIN" manner.
Select the daintic>t china and silver,
and if possible bring with II atIny vase
with one choice rose or flower whose
fragrance will not be too pun~ent
spread Il pretty, white, gl"s>Ily--m"otli
napkin over the small waiter; have the
glass like crystal and the silver bright
aS a ray from the sun. ANYTHING To be
taken hot should be as Hot as possible.
ANYTHING needed cold should be like
ice.
No hirh seasoning should be given 10
an invalid: but what j. allowed should
he the choicest and mingled like Eve :
repa~t for the angel in Eden. ltcmem-
her that salt, pepper or sugar can be-
easily added. but if too much l. used II
cannot Ice rcmcdicd and the food be ac-
ccptable. \ very small proportion OF
the sick care for sweet things: broth-
and ~wcll-scaSnned meat. when allowed,
fruit and acid %jcllics are usually more
sought after.
While cndcayoring to surprise the
patient with something that one feels
sure will be rcli~hcd. if the sick turn
from il. not vet able To relish 1t. he pa
ticnt. DO not urge or eXpo>tulate. Re
move the dish. and when out Of sight
reflect if YOU have not taken in too large
a quantity. If your judgment a~SScntS,
try something else in Il very small guam
titV. and an hour or two after prepare
the same thing that was before rejected,
but only Il spoonful or two, offer it with
out comment. and in nine cases out OF
ten. if really daintily prepared and
presented, il will be taken with a good
relish.
OF one thing, 4 nurse, or n who has
ANYTHING To do with the care of an in
valid. cannot be too cautious. In pre-
parin~ broth, beef teas, or soups, let no
mote of fat be seen floating on the sur
face. Nothing is so repulsivc as those
cgcS of fat on the top of a cup of broth
or soup. If wcll-madr, few articles con-
tinuc : o long To be acceptable as good
beef tea: only he cautious not tn give IL
too constantly, lest it grow wcarisome.
We have seen but few who make beet
tea in the WAY we imagine best secures
the whole of the Juice of the meat, with,
out any addition of water. We will
give a rule that i not troublesome Ia
follow, and. once tried. we think will he
more generally used. If near a butch.
cr. get him To chop Il pound of lean beef
very fine (if YOU prefer, chop ii al
homc), take Il ACKNOWLEDGEMENT glass
or StCne jar. put the beef thus chopped
into it without any water. Screw down
the cover and set in Il kettle of cold
water. We have always screwed the
cover almost as tight rs for preserves,
or put in a large cork quite firmly. and
never had one cracked or broken. The
water should not reach the top of the
ldT. even With bblilHV. 'Npllt Stt a
brick or some other weight on top to
keep the jar from tipping over; but il
broad at the bottom the weight of the
meat will prevent that. Let it heat
very slowly till il comes to a quiet boil.
Keep it in that state full six hours. That
is the best; but if in haste it can be
made quite good in one hour. When
possible. beef tea should he made the
day before using. Set the kettle off the
stove. when done. into a cool place. and
let jar and contents become perfectly
cold before taking it out. When open,
ed. turn into a bowl, let it stand a short
time to settle. and see if any particle OF
fat rises to the top. If 80, remove with
great care. Squeeze the meat hard, 4
little al a time, through 4 lemon-squeeZ,
er. Ia secure all the juice. Then salt
and peppcr-if allowed-heat quickly
in a very clean saucepan. strain through
a c'ean cloth. and give To the patient
either very hot or icy cold. As best rel,
iShed.
We close now. lest we become tedious.
But we have suffered so much from poor
nursing. and been ut other times 50
comfortable and happy by the best OF
care. that we greatly desire mothers
should see the great importance of hay
ing their daughters know how to take
good care of those who are sick and
suifering.-NrS. Henry Udrd Beecher. IN
Christian Union.