Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-07-29
NO. AZ
NURSING.
How an Invalid Shoula be Nursed in Coun-
try Home.

When woman is i'll, her hair should
be carefully cared for from the begin
ming of the illness. If it is neglected
and allowed to become tangled, it is
livery difficult to make it smooth and
tidy again. It must be parted at the
back, gently combed every moSning,
and arranged in two braids, with the
ends. securely tied with a piece of old
ribbon. Two braids are better than
one, for they can be drawn out of the
way on each side, not to interfere
with the head resting comfortably on
the pillow.
In fever, or in any disease affecting
the brain, where it is desirable to keep
the head cool, it is well to have a soft
hair pillow, or one stuffed with cut
rags, or paper torn into small pieces
Being less soft than the usual feather
one, the head would not sink into it,
and SO would not be kept as warm.
Some people particularly object to q
hard pillow, and then it should not be
used, as the discomfort would more
than counterbalance the good derived
from it. When the forehead is hot, it
is a great relief to use frequently some
cooling lotion. Put few Jumps of ice
in bowl, and pour on them little
alcohol; dip single thickness of old,
thin cotton into the liquid, and lay it
on the forehead. The cotton must not,
on any account, be doubled, as the
cooling effect is produced by the e7ap-
Grafton of the alcohol, and the more
r11i0 lyIvr thIr tolT lTnc 1o1o +bo
ual it is. If ice can not be procured,
battle the face with eqaal parts of alco-
hol and cold water, taking care not to
get it into the eyes, and fan until it is
dry. When the eyes are affected,
land cold applications are ordered.
kept small squares of fine linen, or
pieces of an old handkerchief, on
lump of ice, or, if this is not to be had,
in basin of fresh spring water. When
one is placed on the eye, remove it be-
fore it is entirely dry, and put it away
to be burned. If there is any discharge
from the eye, this is particularly neces-
|sary. No piece should be used a second
time.
In injuries to the head, ice is often
used to lessen the tendency to infiam-
nation, and it is not always easy or
possible in the country to get an ice
bag to hold it. The best substitute is
a piece of India rubber cloth, about
half a yard square. Crack the ice in
small Jumps, put it in the middle of the
cloth, and, gathering the corners
loosely together, tie a string tightly,
around it, like pudding prepared to
boil. Leave plenty of room for the ice
|so it will adjust itself easily to the
shape Of the head. Snow is much bet
ter than ice, when it can be obtained,
as it is more easily arranged. Soft
towels should be kept wrapped around
the ends of the rubber cloth where it
lis tied, to absorb any water that may
escape, and it should be watched, that
none may drip under the pillow or into
the bed, unobserved.
Hot lamentations, although soothing
the pain of the sufferers, are often the
cause of much discomfort to the nurse
applying them. Unless she knows how
to do it properly she will certainly
scald her hands in wringing the cloths
out of the boiling water, and many
blisters will bear witness to her devo-
ton. If the following directions are
carefully followed it will be seen to be
perfectly possible to avoid this
catastrophe and yet do the
work effectually. Place strong
towel in a basin, letting the
two ends project over the rim, put a
thick piece of flannel, doubled three or
four times, in the middle of the towel,
and pour the boiling water on it; take
the dry ends of the towel, one in each
hand, and twist the flannel firmly in
ont of no Evo7,-
drop of water can be squeezed from it.
in this way without touching it wiah,
the hands. When it is sufficiently dry,
open the towel, and the flannel is ready
for application. If turpentine or laud-
anum is ordered, it can be sprinAed on
L the cloth before it is laid on the patient
4 A piece of rubber cloth placed over it
4 will help to retain the heat, and it viii
not have to be changed as often as if
! uncovered. When hops are used, they
should be sewed in flannel bag when
dry, and then wrung out of boiling
water as directed. 1t is important to
have two fannels, that one may be
ready to put on the moment the other
4 is removed, thus keeping up coninll-
Gus heat, and running no risk of the
sick person taking cold while waiting
for fresh one.
q When it is desirable to use dry heat,
4 it can be applied by means of salt heated
y in the oven, and put into flannel bags:
3 fine sand is some times substituted for
salt, and bran can be used as being
lighter than either, although it loses its
heat more quickly. An India rubber
hot water bag is great comfort, and
not an expensive luxury; one to hold q
quart can be bought for dollar and q
quarter, and with proper care will last
for years. The top must be very
tightly screwed on, or there is danger
of leaking. The best substitute, if one
can not be procured, is lager beer
bottle, the patent stopper renders it
impossible for the water to escape,
which it is very apt to do with com
mon cork, unless it fits perfectly, and
I is driven in with especial care.-Elizo-
] beth Robinson Scovil, in Country Gem
i tEen1a7a.