Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-05-15
Cleanliness In tho Sick Room.

~ Sno oiCA hOOuts
While cleanliness Is of Importance in
cvery department of the household. IL il
dcubly SO in the sick room. Grimv
windows, smoky walls, dirty and dust
nllcd carpets, Objectionable in any
apartment should never be tolerated
here, especially the last, as thew are NOT
only discomforting to both patient and
nurse, but exceedingly unsanitarv Also.
Inc ar oeing constantly vitiated by the
me ouss snat 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 Tor the sick to lie upon, whether
feathers, mattress, or straw, a light.
soft quilt should be spread between
that and the sheet, and another in read
mess to take its place that it NAV be-
frequently aired as we'll as occasionally
washed. Quilts and counterpanes
should be light. neat and cleaH sheets
and pillow-slips must be FREQUENTLY
changed, especially in fevers, 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 a piece of
soft quilt or q 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 a woman, neatly braided
at the back. A daily OF 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 o free use of water, the daily
use of the flesh-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 suffi-
cient to harass and keep the invalid
from repose, and at the nov 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 we'll as pleasing
to the eye. While the sick room should
never be glaring with light, neither
should it be like a dungeon for dimness
and gloom. Who're dazzling sunshine
or sven a bright light cannot be en-
dured, often a glimmer of sunbeams
through a partly open shutter is very
cheering.
For those who are, In health, particu-
lar and fastidious in their ways, the
keeping Of themselves and surroundings
in q tidy and agreeable way is doubly
| imperative, as disorder and dirt are to
such q continual eye-sore and nerve
i~rritant, and through their harassing
effects upon the mind render GONZALES
ence tedious and q return to health diff.
cult.
Occasionally one is to be met who is
Influenced but slightly by things of this
nature, whose mind dwells mainly Oh
his own distresses, or on things remote,
while still more seldom we see or hear
of that anomaly in The sick room-ona
to whom any niceties of toilet are q
WEAKNESS, any show OF order-keeping
about him a plague; and where this
! occurs it is doubtless better for the pa
tent to have his way, however adverse
to the principles or contrary to the
habits of the nurse, for the reason that
whatever is soothing to the mind is BEN
eficial. -Country Gentleman.
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