The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-01-22
THE AMATEUR oocTRess.

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tain Dsansa Limits.
The amateur doctress must be careful
not to overstep certain well-defned linn
its In her work, or she may do more
harm than good Some women whom
they begin dabbling in medicines do not
know where to stop.
One important use Il the amateur
doctress is that from her larger
experience she can see at once when
m illness is serious. and insist that .
doctor shall be Immediately sent for. Il
il difficult sometimes TO convince people
of the necessity.
Some doctors carefully adapt their
language to their hearers, and use SIM
pie words and 60 over the instructions
to very ignorant people; but others
abuse the poor people for their heart
lessness and carelessness, and say that
they never carry out orders. when the
truth of the matter is that the orders
are couched in technical terms
just as unintelligible to them
as Chinese. For instance, a bottle
of medicine was sent labeled: ITO be
taken in a recumbent posture" The
wife went all round inguiring if any Of
the neighbors could lend her recuDs
bent posture for the man to take his
medicine in. Even If they understand
the words. poor people ,ften have no
practical knowledge how to do the
things they are told to do. In such
eases the lady amateur is most useful
supplement to the medical man. re-
member q woman saying that the doc
tor had told her to make beef tea; was
she to put the beef in the teapot. and
fill it up with boiling water? Many
people refuse beef tea, saying it makes
them flatulent 1t is useful for lady
doctress to know that bit of bruised
ginger boiled with the beef will prevent
this.
How to make linseed poultice is an
other thing that people require to be
taught. The cold, clammy poultices
that are often applied do more harm
than good. To make q really satisfac-
tory poultice. have q basin and dish
quite hot. and the water boiling. II the
pOultice is for the chest. take piece Of
clean rag large enough to cover the
whole chest, and lay it on the hot dish.
Pour into the basin as much boiling
water az will mix the poultice. Scat
ter the linseed meal in lightly, and
stir it with knife until il is sufficiently
consistent. If it is too dry, the poultice
will not hold together; and if it is too
e n cA
Portable. Spread the poultice on the
rag evenly with the knife, and double
over the rag a tiny bit at the edges.
Carry the pOultice to the patient on the
hot dish. If it is too hot to apply, it is
easy to let it cool for minute. Bind
the poultice firmly on with a handker.
chief or few folds of bandaging. and
'ay a piece of flannel over it, both in
order to retain the heat and to prevent
the clothes from being made damp. One
woman, having made Inns ed poultice,
kept it for future use ever after, and
whenever q pOultice was ordered, used
to warm up the dry, mouldy old thing
in the oven and put it on again.
A bucket of fresh cold water kept
under the bed of bedridden person viii
usually prevent bed-sores. The slight
evaporation keeps the bed cool and
pleasant. II bed-sores have formed, An
old silk HANDKERCHIEF tackled inside the
garment is comfortable. There are
many harmless homemade remedies
which lady may dispense in the case
of trifiing ailments, like coughs and
colds, asthma and weakness and ordi-
nary bilious attacks; and to these home
medicines perhaps . few simple and
well known patent medicines may safe
ly be added; but no one who has not
had regular medical training ought
ever to think of administering drugs
which they may chance to have heard
are good for this or that ailment.
Such things as black-currant tea,
raspberry vinegar with water. lemonade
and rhubarb sherbet are most welcome
to thirsty, feverish sufferers; and the
loan for short time of such appliances
as a hot-water bag, an air cushion, or
bed-rest may sometimes afford great