Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-07-27
A SHORT STORY OF ONE s!ckRooM.
In which Are Perhaps Some Suggestions Of
Avoidance For Others.


Once upon time, not so very long ago,
was asked to spend IA few hours in sick
room. The day nurse was exhausted, and
temporary assistance was necessary. Of
course consented to serve, though would
gladly have scrubbed the sidewalk instead
had been permitted to exercise my prefer
ence.
The general reader may think this is
hard hearted statement, but when say that
| have the same dislike-yes, more than this,
contemplation my own sickrooms it may
throw different light on the matter.
never remember to have had a pain in my
life that didn't feel disguised with it,
VIII passed into closely shut might
say Theoretically sealed-apartment, where
the steam and vinegar treatment had been
in operation for the relief of pneumonia
The patient lay on her back, with what
seemed a cushion about foot high on her
chest. discovered later that it was flax
seed poultice.
The tired nurse made some final touches
to the invalid's toilet, gave me some in.
struction in dismal undertone and left me
to my misery. | was not to speak to the
patient and allow no one else to enter the
chamber, and on no account must permit
a breath of air to float in. High screens
were placed against doors and windows.
Now, if had he'd my way should have
thrown that poultce as far as could send
it, and after bathing the chest in warm wa
ter | should have covered it with soft, light
flannel, and then should have turned the
sufferer slightly on her side, covered her
comfortably, opened a window at the bot
tom and top and let in some of God 8 fresh
air, which l believe is more important in
pneumonia than in health.
But was under orders, and perhaps it is
just as well, for l might have killed her,
because as she was frightened at the very
thought of air and everybody else in the
house was in the same condition my sense
of what was right could scarcely have borne
the weight of the opposition.
For a few moments there was nothing to
do of any consequence. The nurse had ap-
piled the half peck, more or less of fiaxseed
that went to form the poultice, and had
plenty of time to think.
as there any need Of this condition."
asked myself, and something which is to
me like the voice of God replied:
mo, there is not"
Once the patient moaned, with feeble
movement of her hand toward the weight
on her chest
"Oh, so heavyw
"Shall | take it OFF,"
mo, no, kill me, kill me-" she whispered
hoarsely.
Well, she passed on few days later, and
though | had previously specialized about
this peculiar method of sufocating patients
with foul air and pressing the breath out of
them with heavy weights never quite re-
allied till that day how utterly unscientific
and cruel such treatment was.
l shall probably be accused of colossal
conceit when | say that | believe l could
have cured this patient at this critical mo-
| ment if | could have been allowed the free
| dom of my will, to have raised her will from
| the living grave into which it had been
| plunged-not by her malady, but by the
| concentrated thought of every member of
| that household that she was doomed and
| by the filthy and barbarous method of the
attendant physician. But have said it, al!
| the same, and know | am speaking the
truth.-Eleanor Kirk Idea