The Forrest City times., 1894-03-23
HOUSEHOLD CHAT.
A Few Timely Words of Advice About
 Nursing tho Sick.

.
 Nursing tho Sick.
 Some people who are untiring in their care and watchfulness while a patient is very sick, relax their vigil lance so soon as they are considered out of danger"
 They are like a teamster who, hav- ing ''scotched" the wheels of his wagon up steep grade, pulls away the blocks before he is fairly lon the level;" the load slips back, and the work has all to be done over again.
 A sick person must be well-advanced in the plateau of convalescencc. be- fore the nurses care lessens. They must be guarded against themselves. as well as against others, and their strength should never be estimated by their ambition.
 1t is very natural for one who has been shut in from seeing and hearing what is going on in their small world to over-exert themselves in their anxi' ety to catch up again.
 On the other hand, the good friends and neighbors who have submitted gracefully to the mo admittance" sign while there was danger, think when a person is able to sit up: Surely may go in and see them; l won't stay too long, or talk too much, or do anything to hurt them"
 And one, perhapz might not; but If Mrs. A. goes in, she is sure to tell Mrs. E. when she sees her, and if Mrs. E. is not admitted she feels hurt, and if she 1 is admitted Mrs C., D., F.. and all the rest troop in after her. and the patient has relapse which no one can account for.
 There is no rule to be followed. how ever, in this matter. for while one per son thrives on company and enjoys l two or three callers day, another tires with one, or even with too much 1 conversation among members of her own family. It is case where previ- ous experience and good judgment must rule.
 when they hardly know what they want; or when they refuse it fearing to make extra trouble for the nurse; that is something to learn; to discrim. mate between such times, and those other times when the mere mention of food sickens them.
 It is not necessary to keep patient on diet of sweet slops" as a certain invalid tapioca ,oas-meal, gelatine and other like preparations tc be eaten with sweetened cream. Any wholesome food, well-coolSed and not too hearty for a digestion that can not be aided to any extent by exercise, is suitable for convalescent, and no doubt every householder knows how to suit the taste of her particular ''sick folk" in this respect; but whatever is given them, it must be daintily served, and, if it is supposed to be eaten hot, have it piping hot when you carry it to them; it will cool fast enough after they commence eating, and if their ap- petite is not very good, smut on dish or napkin. or stickiness on the handle of fork or spoon will spoil the incest cookery for them; and it will be the same if they have to wait, even SO few minutes over the time when they expect, and should have, their meal.
 This will seem "finicky" to hearty person, by whom such trifles would never be noticed, but to an invalid, one whose vigor is barely equal to the task of living. and whose whole interest centers in this food, as the means of giving back his strength. mole-hills are mountains, and a delayed lunch mat ter of importance.
 Nursing is largely labor of love. or should be: for the most skillful of trained nurses can not do for us what one of ''our own," prompted by love and desire to help us can do. Remember that; be patient with their fretfulness; bear with their whims, make them think the care you take of them is no care but pleasure; keep a cheerful face before them and have always a cheery ring in your voice; it can be done if you really try, and will have a better effect on your invalid than all the stereotyped words of en- couragement to be thought of; and may success attend your efforts. To ledo Blade.