Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-02-05
LADIES' COLUM N.
SICK ROOM HINTS.

els there anything that can do for
your" is the question invariably ad-
dressed to an invalid, and, speaking
from personal experience, were in
the palace of Truth, I should reply:
"There is not much that you can do
but much that you may leave undone.
First, do come in less noisily; shut the
door after you; sit or stand in front
where [ can see you without strain
ing the muscles of my neck, and ABOVE
all, do not shake the bed! Pain is bad
enough, but worries are far worse"
Not one in a hundred knows how to
behave in a sick-rOom, so as to leave
the patient no worse for the visit. This
may sound very sweeping assertion,
but it is borne out by experience, and
may be applied to professed nurses as
well as professional friends. But sup
pose some one calls-one of those (Of
whom many are happily existent)
whose presence is "welcome as the
flowers in May" who comes in with a
smile, speaks softly, listens with a
sympathetic ear to all the tale Of woe,
and is able to suggest many little
things to make one more comfortable.
Perhaps she brings with her on each
visit some little surprise-a few choice
flowers, a jelly, a bottle of good scent,
Or new book. In any case, it is a
pleasure to hear her footstep and see
her sweet smile.
Nothing is SO irritating as to see
from your bed crooked blinds, dirty
cups or glasses, or tables Uttered with
unnecessary trifes. One Of the first
duties in q sick room is to move all
knickknacks out of the way, never
leaving a thing in the room when done
with, especially any evidence of food
or drink. Flowers may be in the room
day by day, but should be removed at
night, and should always have the
lower leaves stripped off the stalks
before putting them in the vase. 1t
is these leaves, left in the water, which
make it so disagreeable, especially in
the case Of mignonette, asters and wall
flowers. Hyacinths, daffodils, and all
flowers with juicy stalks soon make
the water unbearably nasty.
After the patient has been washed,
had breakfast, and been generally I'll
died, the door of the room should be
fastened wide open to air it. This can
be done even in winter, if there is a
fire. A few drops Of eucalyptus oil,
or toilet vinegar, poured into saucer
and left to evaporate are very re-
freshing. The nurse Or attendant
should wear quiet shoes and dress
that does not rustic.
Punctuality in giving medicine and
meals is Of the utmost Importance. A
serious relapse may be caused by the
food being delayed. Should there be
any hitch in it's preparation, do not
let the patient be kept waiting, but
substitute some other food; and, above
all, never take up anything Of which
there is any doubt as to it's freshness
Taste outside the room everything be-
fore Offering it. No pains should be
spared in serving food up in pretty
guise-clean table napkins, garnishing
Of parsley, lemon or beetroot, an ex-
ira rub to the glass or silver; any
thing, in short, may be pressed into
service to set off the appearance Of
what is not attractive to the eye.
When the doctor allows it, spong
ing the body with vinegar Or hot wa
ter, or Coutt's acetic acid, materially
aids convalescence. Above all, keep
all household worries, as we'll as too
many sympathizing visitors, well out
of the way. To be as cheerful as pos
sible is ones boundenduty, and GER
tainly one should never retail CHASTITY
stories OF other peoples troubles and
wounds. If anything is on the pa
TENTS mind which retards the pro-
gress of recovery, try to ascertain the
cause. You may be Of signal service
in this respect.
Finally, to be successful in the sick
room: while bound by certain neces-
sary rules, remember that what is one
mans meat is is another mans poison.
and that no two constitutions are
alike, SO that certain latitude may be
granted, land ones common sense used
to the advantage Of all concerned
| patient, nurse and doctor alike.
Soak your lamp wick in cider vine
gar for twenty fours hours, then dry
thoroughly, and before putting it in
place boil the lamp top in soda water,
polish it till bright It burns a clear
| bright fame and without odor.
Wash your mirrors with cfamois