The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23

When a child is really Ill the docto,
should be sent for. But the doctor does
not take care of the child. He merely pre-
scribes for It, and il behooves the mothe,
that she know well what TO do outside OF
the medical treatment.
The first thing is to make the little SUI.
ferer comfortable. See that his pillow ia
not too high and is often shaken smooth.
that the sheets are not crumpled and ara
well tucked In at the foot of the bed. Even
in health no one can be comfortable with
the bedclothes untucked and working I'm
about his ankles.
Let there be no strong lightin the child'.
eyes. The room should be moderately
light Except in maladies and other dis
eases where the eyes are liable TO weaken
and airy. Good ventilation is one OF the
chief factors in health, and in sickness (,
is absolutely necessary. Let the sickroom.
therefore, be one that can be easily aired.
See TO it that no faint of foul air be SUD
fered in it for a moment.
In infectious diseases a sheet should Ia
hung before the door and kept saturated
with some disinfectant. There are various
prepared chlorides that can be freely used
for this purpose and about the room. An
atomizer is a good thing to have on hand
in any sickness. The air is freshened and
invigorated by sprinkling the chlorides in
a fine spray. or if filled with eau decoloqne
it delights AID refreshes the patient.
There should be 10 medicine bottle,
standing about in the sickroom. What
can be more discouraging TO a child than
to see perpetually staring him in the facs
the reminder Of the next dose he must
take.
Ornaments should be removed from the
room, and there should be no heavy hang.
ings to keep out air and keep in disease
germs. The ideal sickroom should contain
no stuffed chairs, no wooden carpets. but
light cane or willow furniture and rugs.
which can be frequently taken out and
shaken. There should be pictures on the
walls--cheerful pictures-such as the eve
rests upon with calmness and refreshments
There should be nothing that creaks o.
rattles CT squeaks in the sick chilG's room.
If the windows rattle, put hEs of cotton
wool between sash and casing in such a
manner that it can be removed when the
windows are 10 be opened. II the doors
creak on their hinges-is there no oil in the
lamps Of the household? A drop of oil and
a feather may make the difference between
misery and comparative comfort. Where
have | heard the delightful story Of The
feather that cured the nervous family
How the door creaked and creaked and The
delicate wife sbivered and was miserable,
and the tired, overworked husband fidget-
1 ~ III md ann Oh nd
finally swore, while the children whined
and fretted and quarreled, and all the
while no one knew what was the matter.
One day the husband, led by a half defined
impulse, took a feather and drop OF oil
and oiled the hinges of the door. When
the wife saw him doit she thought, "How
kind and considerable is William and, her
nerves no longer rasped by the odious
she greeted him with smile
that made him feel like oiling doors all
day, whereupon he smiled, too. and said
something pleasant and was answered
and the children tried that, too,
and straightway found the day pleasanter
than they had thought, and resolved to 20
out and play together instead OF flying at
each others Threats.
Few visitors should be allowed, ana
those few should be people who know how
to conduct themselves In the place. Let
there be no loud talking. no giggling-noth-
ing that will excite the patient, pleasur-
ably or the reverse. Let no one come rush
ing into the room bringing some piece Of
news which he thinks the patient will be
glad 10 hear. The nervous fatigue will do
more harm than the best Of news can coun-
teract Whispering is an abominaton Ia
a sickroom.
Above all, Danish strictly such persons
as would be likely TO comment unfayora0iy
on the patients appearance. It's astonlsl-
ing to see how little sense many people
have in this regard.
If his mother is an excitable person she
is not the one TO take care Of him. A com
petent nurse should be emplOyed-not an
ignorant woman with "a gift for nursing
but a trained sick nurse. The mothers
very intensity Of desire TO help her suffer
ing child may prevent her doing so. Stihe
her feelings as she will, there is distress 10
the air. The child feels a sense Of disquiet
she cannot give him that feeling OF aoso
Lutte repose which is necessary for his Wei
being. The nurse, accustomed 70 the sight
Of suffering. can endure IL without finch
ing. Her calmness, which does not imply
lack of sympathy, soothes the harassed
nerves: her practiced hand carries convlc-
ton of her power and will for good. The
child rests upon her, and is relieved by the
sound Of her voice.
1t is only 10 serious illnesses that these
remarks apply. In all the minor troubles
of childhood the mother IS the natural care
taker and should be the last TO wish TO
deprive her Of the privilege of nursing and
tending her sick child. What happy days
may be passed in the sickroom in close
The mothers heart swells
with emotion when she sees the pale face
light up at sight of her; she feels she u
nearer to her child than anything or any
body in the world. They two are together
in heart and mind and body. with no ons
TO come between them-no playfellows for
him, no callers or other interruptions FOR
her.
The time Of convalescence is a golden
time indeedl Shut up together, the Two
play at paper dolls; they read stories; d0aA
manner OF pleasant things. How long IL IS
since this busy woman has had time for
fairy talel She plays with real dolls and
finds il delightful to dress and undress
them. and to ransack the piece bag for
bright scraps TO make new frocks for the
wax and china babies.
Then the pleasure of bringing the slender
dainty meals and seeing them eaten with
ever increasing relishl How pleased the
child is when his toast il brought on the
pretty plato he could never have when no
was WE'LL How he enjoys the jelly nodded