Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-06
THE SICK.
SOME PRACTICAL AND sEAsoTABLE
sueeEsr1oEs ABOUT NURSING.
Tho Questions Of Light, Air, Warmth, Diet,
Cleanliness, and ouiet--0ther
Points.
fFor the Dispa,ch.l

In spite of the blessed fact that science
has made. and is daily making, rapid
strides toward the prevention OF disease
and the alienation Of suffering, there re-
mains A sad truth that sickness comes TO
us all, at some time or other, and 1t de-
ponds largely upon ourselves whether
ITS stay shall be long or brief, disastrous
or otherwise in its results.
when Pandora III old opened her
tabled box and lot loose call the ills
which flesh is heir 10, the story goes on
yery prettily 10 tell us that "Hope re-
NAMED behind" This Hope centres
FIRST in the skilful physician, and Sc
condly in the intelligence of the nurse
whose duty il becomes to carry out bis
directions, implicitly, gently, patiently
and with discretion.
trust if any learned or scientific per-
sons should glance into my modest
corner they Will pardon me for saying
many things which seem to their en-
liRhtened minds the veriest trulsms. My
apology for so doing is the fact that
many OF our people have no booksintheir
homes no time TO look over themif they
had them, to CLEAN words Of wisdom scat
tered through their pages no previous
training 10 teach them to apply such in
formation TO their daily lives. To manyof
these homes a newspaper comes as a
welcome break in their monotonous
round OF duty. After reading the latest
railroad disasters and other sensations
even "twice-told tale " may come to
them with the charm Of novelty.
have been told by eminent physi-
clans that thousands die daily without
their assistance simply because, I'M
der the mistaken idea OF helping their
families, many persons keep up as long
AS they can stand or struggle on, end
finally "drop in the traces" leaving
their dear ones to scuffle on in deeper
misery. The blessed ounce Of proven
ton. which il worth 80 many pounds OF
cure, is too often disregarded with fatal
results.
The first requisite, then, is to keep our
wits about us, and observing when one
OF our flock is ailing take IL in time.
There are many cases in which rest and
attention TO diet will work wonders, but
when there are symptoms which we do
not fully understand the only safe thing
10 do is 20 get the advice of physician
as speedily as possible. Physicians also
tell us that many thousands die on their
hands who theoretically ought to get
well, simply because their directions are
not well understood and Systematically
carried out
In large cities further North the Gus
tom Of en- DloyiDg trained nurses is
rapidly gaining ground. This Is an ex-
ceilent and desirable plan, for many
earnest and faithful young women are
enabled to earn a most respectable live
lihood, besides rendering efficient ser
vice 10 patients and employers but this
luxury is beyond the reach of the bulk OF
humanity, so it is very necessary that the
wife and mother should use all diligence
in informing herself on the subject OF
nursing as fully az possible by reading,
inquiry, and observation.
Florence Nightingale, whose large ex-
perience enabled her to write one of the
best books on nursing ever given to the
world, says that "nursing ought to sig
Nifty the judicious use of fresh air, light,
warmth, cleanliness, quiet, the proper
selection and administration of diet, all
at the least expense Of vital power to the
patient. "
FRESH AIR.
Those who live in any well-ventilated
homes can form no idea Of the dark,
"stuffy," hot, foully-smelling rooms in
which thousands Of our people langulsh
upon beds of sickness. There are many
persons whose means are very limited
who will systematically deny themselves
necessary food aud clothing to lavish
all upon their sick ones, but at the same
time complacently deny them the soul
reyiying, purifying, God-glven boon OF
fresh air. There is no disease to which
pure fresh air is injurious. Open fire
places are great blessing, because the
draught up the chimney carries many OF
the impurities of the sick-room which
would otherwise act and react upon
the patient as well as the attendants.
L have often wondered why 1t is
that cheap houses always have the win
dows fastened in tightly at the top, so
that only the lower sash can be opened.
IL cords and weights are too costly, it
would be so easy 10 have an extra but
ton " or prop secured at a suitable height,
or even a hole bored and a stout nail,
which is tied TO peg near by, can be
put in TO replace the window IN proper
position after being lowered awhile
from the top, causing free circulation
above. where the heated and impure sir
accumulates. II the patient is protected
by little extra covering, the door
opened, and the window lowered from
the top several times q day for few mo-
ments at time the reviying effect will
soon be apparent
LIGHT.
A sick-room should be as bright and
cheerful as possible. Of course 3 strong
glare is not pleasant or healthful, the
light should always be arranged so as
not to shine directly in the patients
eyes; but there lie nothing more de-
pressing than TO be shut in by four walls.
whence all sunlight, or even daylight, is
carefully excluded, and to lie there and
see people cropping and stumbling about
in frantic efforts to keep very quiet.
At night, il lamp is used, it should
have shade over it, or to be
placed in such position as not to dazzle
the eyes Of the patient. OF course these
remarks do not apply to cases in which
the eyes are diseased or affected by the
nervous condition of the sufferer. for
then it is often necessary to remain in |
darkened rooms for length of time,
which, however, will be determined by |
physician.
WARMTH.
One OF the most difficult duties q nurse !
has to perform is To regulate the tempera-
ture Of the sick room. The patient is
often chilly from thinness of blood, lack
Of exercise and circulation, or alterna-
tons from feverishness, so the greatest
care must be taken in this particular.
1t is well for the nurse TO feel their
hands and limbs from time to time, and
If they are too cool apply warm fan
nels, hot bricks, OF bottles of hot
water. "Pstients are frequently lost in
the latter stages Of acute disease for
want Of attention TO these simple precau-
tons. The fatal chill is apt to come on