Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-15

specting without being supercilious; to be
educated without calling attention to 1t, and
to be religious without preaching it these
are qualities that are not all commonly CEN
tered In one person, but they are wonderful
helps to successful nursing as well as to
some other callings.
The training of nnrse is not from books
though she may be told many useful things
by them. The actual contact with the sick
is necessary and nursing in the household
and in the hospital are very different
Many hospitals prefer to train all their
| nurses after system of their own. Many
institutions prefer the graduates of training
schools for nurses. But very many useful
and most efficient nurses never have seen
the inside of a city hospital or training
school and never will; and they acquire
many times a self-reliance and ready skill
in household nursing that is not excelled in
any institution.
The sick room should be large and well
ventilated, with possibilities of sunlight
and artificial warmth. Choose the quiet
side or part of the house and it should never
be damp. Except in extraordinary cases
light is indispensable to the best relief Of
the sick. 1t should be softened and sub
dued, not glaring. The light should be ad-
mitted in quantities. 1t is an element of
cheerfulness, and on that account should be
admitted while the patient can bear it with
out Inconvenience.
EFFECT OF SUNLIGHT.
The sunlight has a direct and powerful
influence for good upon the physical system,
and on this account. also, its presence should
be regarded as prime necessity. Blinds or
movable screens may be provided to shield
the eyes, If the latter are too sensitive to
bear the direct rays; but no substitute for
light can perform its powerful service as q
sanitary agent in the sick chamber.
Inc time is coming when houses will be
built with an inva1id's room. 1t will be re-
mote from the kitchen and the nursery. 1t
Will have no stationary lavatories, detective
traps and draining pipes. The walls will
have some soft, neutral tint, and the wood
work will be plain. Carpets will be dis
pensed with and small rugs will take their
place. A convenient table will reach wells
over the bed, when wanted there, and the
furniture will be simple and plain. This
room will be furnished with good air, and,
if possible. sunshine, and will be cheerful
and substantial rather than ornamental.
Sunshine is most excellent medicine, and
N crowded buildings the sunny side has the
least sickness, and in hospitals, generally
speaking. patients in sunny rooms recover
soonest. Sick people love the light, and
unless the eyes be sensitive, sit or lie with
their faces toward it.
SWEEPING AND vENTILATING.
If the room is carpeted it may be swept
by hand brush after first scattering
dampened bits of paper or tea leaves upon
it. without raising much dust. Of course a
floor OF hard wood, we'll polished, is the
cleanest and best for sick room, and most
easily kept clean. Rugs can be laid down
to walk on, and may be carried out to be
busted. It should be possible to ventiIate
the room without draft Of air passing over
the patient. The same window opened at
both top and bottom, will frequently ac- |
,omplish this. Sometimes it will do to |
,over the patient with extra bedding, and |
also cover his face, and with door and |
window both opened wide, in a moment, the |
entire air is changed with rapidlty and ease. |
Some outdoor glimpse should be visible
from the bed or chair, where the invalid |
les, il it is but the top of q tree and bit |
,f sky.
II friends knew how irksome, how posi-
lively harmful, is the sameness Of the sick
DOM, surely love and skill would devise
emedies. If it were only bringing in a
'lue flower to-day and pink one to-mor-
owj hanging fresh picture to vary the
nonotony OF the wall, or even an old one in
new place-something, anything. To see
many of his surroundings changed at once
onfuses an invalid; to have one little nov
lty at time to vary the point of observa-
ion stimulates and cheers. Give him that
nd you do more and better than if you
lied the apartment with fresh objects.
II r