The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-06-17
no EurnIsh the sIck Room.

To Furnish the Sick Room.
The room should be light and, if posi-
be, sunny. sunshine has royal
touch for curing disease. The windows
should have two sets Of shades, light and
dark. By drawing the latter the room
may be darkened more readily and neat
" than by pinning up black shawl,
and the sick one will get a more refresh
ing nap If the glare of the light is scften-
ed. In addition to the windows, it is
well to have a transom, or, better still,
ventilators at the top and bottom of the
room. Keep the air fresh and sweet.
An open Crate fire is the best mode Of
heating, and even if furnaee or steam
heat be used, CRATE FIRE izlproves the
ventilation. Even in summer small
lamp may be kept burning in the crate
TO advantage. If the room contains
set bowl attention to the plumbing and
draining must be most careful The
plug should always be kept in and the
holes at the top of the bowl should be
closed up as an extra precaution- Rather
than get one Whit of noxious gas the
pipes should be cut and sealed.
If the walls are pspered, be sure there
is no arsenic in the paper. Have a sam
pie examined by chemist. Take care,
also, that the figure is not annoying to
the invalid. A painted wall is much
cleaner and is more easily kept clean by
wiping with damp cloth. The hard
wood or painted floor seems to be the
best. Have rugs enough about so that
no disturbance will be caused by foot
steps. 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 it is very annoy
ing, and, with consumptiye, very likely
to cause a fit Of coughing. All hangings
should be made Of wash" fabrics. Wool
en- hangings serve only to collect dust,
retain odors and interfere with free cir
culation of air. If a portiere seems adj
visable, it must needs he Of heavy ma
terial, but keep it well shaken.
The bed should be long enough. Too
short bed is no uncommon occurrence,
and produces much discomfort. A some
what narrow bed is best. It should be
wide enough to turn or roll over in, yet
so narrow as to allow free access to the
invalid from either side. An open bed
stead is desirable-that is, one in which
the mattress is thoroughly exposed to
the air The metallic, brass or iron bed
steads are excellent in this respect Let
the mattress be not too soft and free from
humps. Have it made over if necessary
for comfort. BY the bedside, within
easy reach of the sick one, should be a
little table or stand. On account Of
liability to accident from overturning
things, this is best covered with a wash
able 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 electric bell with the
push-button at the head Of the bed This
viii do away with much tinkling Of
highly chased silver bells-more elegant
than useful. Toring toy bell for fifteen
minutes is not conducive to ealmness Of
spirit
Heavy upholstered chairs are out of
place in the sick room, with the excep-
ton Of one for the invalid Rattan
chairs are light, clean and durable, and
do not retain orders. Nothing need be
said in regard to the other furniture
bureau, wardrobe, commode, etc, except
keep it clean. A screen is to the sick
room what a pin is to a woInan-eyer
useful. It should 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 beauty in
itself it may hide skeleton. A very
handsome screen may be had at slight
expense, and will soon pay for stself il
comfort
Make the room bright and attractive
keep it clean and homelike, and you vii
be doing much foI the patient Hang I
quiet, restful picture upon the wall wher,
the eyes fall most frequently, and if th'
illness Is Of long duration. change tn,
pictures in the room occasionally.
growing plant also affords great pleasure
70 an invalid. If flowers are introduced
let them be perfectly fresh and Of not to'