The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-05-01
NURSING.
Hints ON the Care Of the sick In Country
Homes.


| Homes.
When person is dangerously i'll, the
chance of recovery depends as much
upon the care that is taken of the pa
tent as upon the medicine given. Every
doctor will admit that he has lost cases
in his practice which might have been
saved by careful nursing. This is .
terribly serious thought to the woman
on whom the responsibility falls when
sickness comes into home. To know
that the life, for which, perhaps, she
would gladly give her own, may be
sacrificed to her inexperience, is enough
to make her welcome any hints that
will enable her to do herpart efficiently
and well.
In city, many comforts can be pro-
cured for the sick which are not so
easily obtained in the country, and at
first sight it would seem as if the
jewellers in towns had the advantage,
but it is not SO. In one most important
point, they are at a serious disadvantage.
Outside of the country house lies an
Unreasonable volume of pure air, wait
ing for an opportunity to rush in and
bring refreshment and life to the suf-
ferer. Nothing can keep it out but the
Intervention of the nurse, who has al
ways been taught to dread and fear "a
draft" as the greatest evil in existence,
and so makes her patient breathe over
and over again the air in the room.
laden with impurities, exhausted of
oxygen, and totally unfit to be taken
into the lungs of well person, much
| less to be forced on one strug-
Cling with disease. 1t is true that
draft is an evil not to be tol-
Grated for moment; but in order to
have the air of room pure, it is not
necessary to have q current of cold air
blowing directly on the sick bed. Ii
the windows are not arranged to open
at the top, one can easily be made to
do so by removing the cleats that are
nailed on the window-frame to support
the upper sash. 1t can then be kept in
place by stick inside, one end resting
on the upper part of the lower sash and
the other against the top sash; the
length of this stick determines the
width of the opening. If strip of stout
flannel is nailed over the aperture,
which should be usually about an inch
wide, there will be a constant supply of
fresh air admitted. and no draft. The
flannel ought to be four inches wide,
to permit the window to be lowered to
that extent when necessary. Ii the tenn
perature outside is very low, more cold
air will be let in by this plan than can
be conveniently warmed. tbs then bestto
have a piece of wood, about three inches
high, the exact width of the window, and
place it under the lower sash. An open fire
is invaluable as a ventilator; when there
is fireplace in the room, it should
always be used. Ii it is necessary to
make fire in close stove, an iron or
tin vessel, flied with water, should be
kept on the stove. and never allowed to
be less than two-thirds full. If the dis
ease is infectious, Il tablespoonful of
carbolic acid solution, and teaspoon
full of spirits Of turpentine, should be
added to every quart of water. The
temperature ought not to be lower than
sixty-eight degrees, nor higher than
seventytwo degrees, and thermometer
is indispensable by which to regulate it.
In cases of fever, frequent baths are
ordered by the doctor to assist in cool
ing the skin, and in any disease, one
should be administered from time to
time for the sake of cleanliness. The
function of the skin, in removing i'm
purities from the body, is most import
tant, and it can not perform its office
properly unless its millions of pores are
Kept open and free to act. When this
is not done, its proper work is thrown
upon other organs, which in sickness
have enough to do to attend to their
own business. Before giving a bath,
the window should be closed and the
room made warm. Have ready basin
of water. soap. piece of soft cloth and
a couple of towels. Place the patient
on double blanket, with another over
him, removing the night dress, pass the
hand under the upper blanket, battle
small porson of the body, and wipe dry
before proceeding farther, until the
whole has been gone over; then replace
the night dress, and remove the blank
cts, taking care to keep the sick person
covered. All this can be done under
blanket without the least exposure.
Persons i'll with Inflammation of the
lungs have been bathed in this way
with good results. When the teeth can
not be brushed the mouth should be
washed with piece of linen, dipped
in cool water, twice day, the inside as
well as the outside of the teeth being
attended to. When there is fever, fire.
guent sponging of the face and hands
is very refreshing and soothing.-ElizG-
beth Robinson Sc0Uil, in Country Gentle
man.