Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-26
The Amateur Doctress.

From HArperS Bazar
The amateur doctress must be careful not 70
overstep certain well-dehned limits In her
work, or she may do more harm than good.
Some women when they begin dabbiing In
medicines do not know where to stop.
One important use OF the amateur doctress Is
that nom her larger experience she can see at
once when an illness is serious, and insist that
doctor shall be Immediately sent for II f.
oimcoit sometimes TO convince people OF the
Some doctors carefully adapt their language
10 their hearers, aud use simple words aud 20
tney are speaking 10 Very ignorant people, but
otners abuse the poor for their heartlessness and
careiessness, and say that they never carry
OUT orders, when the truth OF the mat
ter Is that the orders are coucbed
In technical terms just IS unintelli-
gible To them as Chinese For instance, a bottle
of medicine was sent labelled 10 he taken in
recumbent posture The wife went all round
lnqulring IL any OF the neghbors could lend her
recna0ent posture Tor the man to take his med
lclne ln- Even If they understand the words,
poor people often have no practical knowledge
now 90 do the things they told TO do. In
SUCH cases the lady amateur IL a most useful
supplement- Ia the medical man. remember n
woman saying that the doctor had told her to
make beeI tea; was she 10 put the beef i'm the
teapot, ana NIL ii mp with boiling water" Many
people refuse beet tea, saying IL makes them
ilaluieht Ii Is useful FOR a lady doctreSs To
Know mat a bit OF bruised ginger boiled with
the beef Will prevent this.
How TO make a linsecG poultice is another
thing that people require 80 be taught. The cold,
clammy poultlces that are often applied do
more harm than good. To make "a really salts
factory poultice have basin and dish quite
not, ana the water boiling. Ii the poultice is
Ior the chest take piece of clean rag large
enough 10 cover the whole chest. and lay IL on
the hot dish. Pour into the basin as much
boiling waller as will mix the poultice. Scatter
the linseed meal in ligntiy. ana stir IL with a
KNIFE unJll IL l. sufficiently consistent Ii IL is
TOO dry, the pouitice Will not hold together:
and ii it is too sloppy Il feels very damp aud
uncomfortable. Spread the pouitice on the rag
evenly with the knife, and double over the rag
a. Tiny DIT at the edges. Carry the poutice to
the patient on the hot dish. Ii it is too hot To
apply, IL Is easy 10 lie! IL cool for minute. Bind
the poultice FIRMLY on with handkerchief or n
lew folds OF bandaging, and lay piece of fan
net over 1t, both in order to retain the heat aud
10 prevent the clothes from being made damp.
One woman, having made a linseed poultic",
Kept III Tor future use ever after, and whenever
pouitice WAS ordered. used To warm mp the
dry, mouldy old thing in the oven and put IL
on again.
bed of "A oedridden person will usually prevent
bed-sores. The slight evaporation keeps the bed
cool ana pleasant. Ii bed-sores have formed IAN
Old SILK handkerchief tackled inside the garme mt
Is comfortable. There are many harmless homo
made remedies which q lady may dispense in
the case of trliiiig ailments, like coughs and
colds asthma and weakness and ordinary bill
ious attacks; and to these home medicines per-
hips lew simple and wel-knowu patent med
lclneS may safely be added, hut no one who has
not had regular medical training ought ever tn
think OF administering drugs waich they may
chance TO have heard are good for this or that
ailment.
Such things as blacIi-currant tea raspberry
vinegar with wafer, lemonade and rhubarb
Sherbet are most welcome to thirsty, Ieverisn
sufferers; and the loan for n short time OF such
appliances as a hoi-water bag. an air cushion, or
q oed.rest may sometimes afford great relief 10