The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-08-24
IN THE SICK ROOM.
The Experience OF An Intelligent Surss
Presented in Popular Form.


''In summer persons caring for the
sick invariably raise the windows from
the bottom" remarked q trained
nurse. "Now, except in very sultry,
close weather this should not be done.
The sIck-room should be constantly
supplied wish fresh air, but it should be
admitted in such a way as to cause no
strong current near or about the
patient. The best way is to drop the
windows from the top: Cool air being
heavier descends, and when introduced
high up purifies and freshens the at
mosphere more thoroughly. 1t is
always dangerous to open a window in
the direction from which the wind il
blowing.
People who are not disturbed BY
disorder when well are often irritated
by the least confusion in the arrange
ment of room when ill. Every thing
in the room should be carefully ad-
justed to the best advantage, for a sick
persons fancy is most capricious.
Nothing should be allowed to lie
around carelessly. The table should
not be Uttered with books and papers.
Flowers should be kept no longer than
absolutely fresh. Medicine and water
glasses should be carefully washed and
kept from the sight of the patient.
The constant sight of medicine is not
only trying to an invalid but often
nauseating.
mo food should ever be prepared in
the sick-room. If only a small bowl OF
broth, it should be served as invitingly
as possible. Nor should a bowl OF
broth or Cruel or a cup OF tea be carried
to the sick person in your hand; place
it on a tray covered with clean napkin.
Bring but little quantity at time, for
a large quantity is apt to take away the
patients appetite. If possible, always
serve too little, reserving a supply
until asked for more. If the physician
should order a larger amount of food.
than the patient can take at one time.
as for instance, a cupful of milk OF
broth, try only little. tablespoon
full or so at time. If the stomach re-
jects even this, try even less. Too
great care can not be observed in all
these seeming small details. With
persons of highly sensitive nervous
organizations the observance of these
apparently trivial things often means
the issue of life or death.
absolute cleanliness is imperative
in the sick room. The bed linen should
be changed at least every other day.
unless the patients condition is such
as TO make il impracticable. Sprinkle
the carpet with tea leaves before sweep
ing, and dust with a damp CLOTH
Cleanliness is the only means by which
the air can be kept pure, especially in
summer. Impure air, whether in the
sick room or otherwise on the premises.
readily becomes poison. Cleanliness
in summer is not only essential TO the
recovery of the sick. but to the con-
tinuance of good health to those who
are well.
at is never desirable 70 Garken 8
sick room except in some nervous dis
eases, affections of the eyes. OF in the
acute stages of the disease. There are
persons whose nervous systems have
become so disarranged that the broad
daylight is an actual pain TO them and
nothing so grateful TO their disturbed
nerves as the darkness. Light. how
ever, is an important adjunct in conva-
lescence. When the patient is very
sick it is easy to admit plenty of light
without allowing it to fall in such a
way as TO occasion ANNOYANCE
Be sure that the lamp does not smoke
or give out bad odor at night
and that the gas does not leak.
and that the lamp is not so placed
IS to make shadows flicker within
sight of the patient when YOU keep it
burning all night. IL the gas Jet
causes this effect on the wall. shade il
in such q manner as to prevent the
formation of distracting shadows.
Little things that in health would be
unnoticed often have disastrous influ-
ence on a system weakened by long or
severe illness.
''For all stomach infiammations OF
irritations there is generally nothing
EFT er than cracked ice. The Jumps
can be allowed to melt in the mouth.
One supply of ice can be made TO last
for a number of hours bv LAYING il in a
piece of coarse flannel suspended in a
bowl. Take a deep bowl, holding q
quart or more and a piece of coarse
flannel. oblong in shape, about twice
as long as it is broad. Fasten the fan
mel around the bowl with a string in
such way as TO make it reach about
half way TO the bottom. Put the
cracked ice into this flannel cup and
cover it with the end left over because
of the oblong shade. In this manner
the ice is kept dry. the water running
through the flannel into the bowl.
Another word about flowers: Keep
no heavily scented blossoms near the
sick person. and if flowers are placed
near the bedside during the day re-
move them at night People with deli
cate imaginations are often very sensi-
tive in regard to a preponderance of
viii % blossoms about them when very
i'll. They want to behold something
vivid that speaks of tbrobbing life. not