Milford chronicle., 1893-07-28
A SHORT STORY OF ONE sIckaoom.
In which Are Perhaps Some Suggestions Of
Avoidance For others.


Avoidance For Others.
Once upon a time, not so very long ago,
was asked to spend a few hours in a sick
room. The day nurse was exhausted, and
temporary assistance was necessary. OF
course I consented to serve, though ! would
gladly have scrubbed the sidewalk instead
had 1 been permitted to exercise my prefer
ence.
The geneFa4 reader may think this is a
hard hearted statement, but when say that
Ihave the same dislike-yes, more than this,
contempt-for my own sickrooms it may
throw a different light on the matter.
never remember to have had pain in my
life that I didn't feel disgusted with it.
Well, passed into a closely shut--I 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 a 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 undeFtOne 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 l had he'd my way should have
thrown that pOultice as far as I 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 Gods fresh
air, which l believe is more important In
pneumonia than in health.
But l was under orders, and perhaps it is
Just as well, for 1 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 haxseed
that went to form the poultice, and had
plenty Of time to think.
SIS there any need Of this conditions' /
asked myself, and something which is to
me like the voice Of God replied;
mo, there is-not."
Once the patient moaned, with a feeble
movement of her hand toward the weight
on her chest;
"Oh, SO heavyp
"Shall take it Off"
''No, no, kill me, kill me" she whispered
hoarsely.
Well, she passed on a few days later, and
though / had previously speculated about
this peculiar method of suffocating patients
with foul air and pressing the breath out Of
them with heavy weights / never quite re-
allied till that day how utterly unscientifc
and cruel such treatment was.
/ shall probably be accused of a colossal
conceit when I say that ] believe / could
have cured this patient at this critical mo-
ment if I could have been allowed the free
dom of mywill, 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 h6ge saidit al
the same, and know am Speaking the
truth-EleanOr Kinks Idea