Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-12-15
Cleanliness In the Sick Room.

While cleanliness is of Importance in
every department of the household, it is
doubly so in the sick room. Grimy
windows, smoky walls, dirty and dust
filed carpets, Objectionable in any
apartment, should never be tolerated
here, especially the last as they are not
only disseminating to both patient and
nurse, but exceedingly unsanitary also,
the air being constantly vitiated by the
fine dust that is beaten up out Of them
and waited about the room.
Perhaps nothing shows greater neglect
of the sick than untidily-kept bed and
bedding. These should always be scru-
pulously neat and clean. Whatever is
used for the sick to lie upon, whether
soft quilt should be spread between
that and the sheet, and another in read
mess to take its place that it may be
frequently aired as we'll as occasionally
washed. Quilts and counterpanes
should be light neat and cleaN, sheets
and pillow-slips must be frequently
changed, especially in fevcrs, where
perspiration is profuse, or in case of
eruptive and malignant diseases. Pill
low-shields of factory or thick muslin
should always be used inside the slips,
and in case the head requires showering,
or wet cloths are laid across the fore
head, there should always be piece of
soft quilt or folded sheet laid over the
slip.
Whatever is worn by the sick or con-
valescent, whether under garments or
outside apparel however coarse or
plain, should always be whole and
clean; the nails should be kept carefully
trimmed, the hair nicely brushed, and
if the invalid is woman, neatly braided
at the back. A daily or semi-weekly
sponging off of the body is in most cases
desirable, while an occasional bath is
absolutely indispensable to cleanliness
and comfort. Where, as is sometimes
the case, the disease is such as will not
admit of free use of water, the daily
use of the tiesh-brush should be substi-
tuted, though this can never wholly take
the place of the bath.
In most cases of illness, whether
chronic or acute, it is desirable to keep
some odorless disinfectant scattered
about the room. Flies should be rigidly
excluded; often two or three are suf1i-
cient to harass and keep the invalid
from repose, and at the now low cost OF
furnishing doors and windows with
screens, there is little excuse for permit
ting these pests in any part OF our DOM
iciles.
Pleasantness and beauty, as well as
cleanliness, are desirable in the sick
room, especially in chronic invalidism.
Yet it is but infrequently we see much
thought given to this matter. Dust
laden tables, disorderly drawers, with
an homogeneous array of medicine bot
ties, dirty teacups and grimy drinking
dishes, make up often the picture that
meets the patients glance Fresh
flowers are always welcome to the con-
valescent, while pictures that have
something in them to think about are
restful to the mind as well as pleasing
to the eve. While the sick room should
never be glaring with light, neither
should it be like dungeon for dimness
and gloom. Where dazzling sunshine
or even bright light cannot be en-
dured, often a glimmer of sunbeams
through partly open shutter is very
cheering.
For those who are, in health, particu
lar and fastidious in their ways, the
keeping of themselves and surrounding
in tidy and agreeable way is doubly
imperative, as disorder and dirt are t.
such continual eye-sore and nerve
irritant, and through their harassins
effects upon the mind render GONZALES
ence tedious and return to health diff
cult.
Occasionally one is to be met who il
influenced but slightly by things of thi
nature, whose mind dwells mainly OF
his own distresses, or on things remote
while still more seldom we see or hea
of that anomaly in the sick room-on
to whom any niceties of toilet are
WEAKNESS, any show OF order-keepinl
about him plague; and where thi
occurs it is doubtless better for the pa
tient to have his way, however advers
to the principles or contrary to tn
habits of the nurse, for the reason tina
whatever is soothing to the mind is ben
eficial.- Country Gentleman.
Parsley in Winter.