The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-20
HINTS FOB SICK ROOMS.
HOW TO FURNISH THE CHAMBER
TO THE BEST ADVANTAGE.

The Arranrement of Light and Sunshine.
Advantages of an Open Grste-Poisens
from Wall Paper-The Choice of q Bed
ard Mattress-Have Light Furniture.
The room should be light and, IL possible,
sunny. Sunshine has royal touch" for
curing diseases. The windows should have
two sets of shades, light and dark. By
drawing the latter the room may be dark
ened more readily and neatly than by pin
ming up q black shawl, and the sick one
will get a more refreshing nap if the glare
of the light is softened. Keep the air fresh
and sweet. In addition to the windows il
| is well to have a transom or, still better,
ventilators at the top and bottom of room.
An open CRATE fire is the best mode Of
heating, aud even if furnace or steam heat
ing be used slight CRATE fire improves the
ventilation. Even in summer a small lamp
may be kept burning in crate to adVan-
tage If the room contains set bowl, at
tention to the plumbing and draining must
be careful. Fls plug should always be
kept in and the holes at the top of the bowl
stopped up as a precaution. Rather than
get one Wifi of noxious gas the pipes
should be cut and sealed.
CARE OF WALLS AND FLOOR.
If the walls are papered, be sure there is
no arsenic in the paper. Have a sample
examined by a chemist. Take care also
that the figure is not annoying to the in
valid. A painted wall is much cleaner,
and is more easily kept clean by wiping
with a damp cloth. The hardwood or
painted floor seems to me best. Have rugs
enough about, so that no disturbance will
be caused by footsteps. The rugs should
be frequently shaken and the floor wiped
with damp cloth.
In gathering up and laying the rugs do
not raise dust, as il is very annoying, and,
with a consumptive, very likely to cause
fit of coughing. All hangings should be
made of wash" fabrics. Wooden hang
ings serve only to collect dust, retain odors
and interfere with free circulation of air.
If a portiere seems advisable, it must needs
be of heavy material, but keep it well
shaken.
The bed should be long enough. Too
short a bed is no uncommon occurrence,
and produces much discomfort. A some
what narrow bed is best. Il should be wide
enough to turn or roll over in, yet so mar
row as to allow free access to the invalid
from either side. An open bedstead is de-
sirable-that is, one in which the mattress
is thoroughly exposed to the air. The
metallic, iron or brass bedsteads are excel
lent in this respect.
Let the mattress be not too soft and free
from Jumps. Have it made over if neces-
sary for comfort.
TABLE AND CALL BELL.
h. r1a ID ], H., ~.
sick one, should be little table or stand
On account of liability to accident from
overturning things, this is best covered
with washable cover. Keep this fresh
and clean. Avoid letting this stand get
Uttered up, especially with soiled medicine
glasses and bottles Wash the medicine
glasses as soon as they are used and keep
them well polished. The invalid should
have some means of calling her nurse or
friend. The best arrangement is an cleo
trio bell, with the push button at the head
of the bed. This will do away with much
tinkling of highly chased silver (plated)
bells-more elegant than useful. TO ring
a toy bell for fifteen minutes is not con-
ducive to calmness of spirit.
Heavy, upholstered chairs are out of
place in the sick room, with the exception
of one for the invalid. Rattan chairs are
light, clean and durable, and do not retain
Odors. Nothing need be said in regard to
the other furniture, such as bureau. ward
robe, commode, etc, except keep it clean.
A screen is to the sick room what pin is
TO a woman-ever useful. It should be
be light, strong, not top heavy, and six
feet high. Its uses are many, and it is also
artistic 1t shields from draughts, from
sight, from interruption; it may have a
beauty in itself; it may hide skeleton. A
very handsome screen may be had at slight
expense, and will soon pay for itself in
comfort.
Make the room bright and attractive,
keep IL clean and homelike, and you will
be doing much for the patient. Hang a
quiet, restful picture upon the wall where
the eye falls most frequently, and If the
illness is of long duration change the pict-
ures in the room occasionally. A growing
plant also affords great pleasure to an in
valid. If flowers are introduced let them
be perfectly fresh, and of not too heavy
Odor.-Pittsburg Dispatch.