St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-03-26
HINTS FOR THE SICK-ROOn.
Few Simple Remedies and Old-Fashioned
Ideas.

take care of an invalid, says the Ameri-
can Queen, and one cannot depend always
upon nurses, and a few simple remedies
and the employment OF a little common
endowmenD often add greatly to the
comfort of the patient and contribute no
little to the rapidity of recovery. To an
ticipate the sick ones wants, to move
gently, to bring the sense OF comfort, rest
and affectionate solicitude belongs not to
hired nurses, but to the members of the
family. Old-fashioned ideas of nursing
are often better than new-ianged ones,
and they are within the reach of every
body The few hints here will be found
Of use:
Wel-ventilated bedrooms will prevent
morning headaches and general lassitude.
Close rooms generate disease. So the
proper thing to do is to supply enough
oxygen by dropping the window few
inches at the top, taking care that the
current does not strike the patient.
In the morning battle the patient with
soft sponge dipped in warm water and
alcohol or whiskey (if this is not objected
to by the physician, and after this gentle
and soothing ministration is over, and
the hair neatly brushed, rub little alco-
hol upon the wrists and temples. 1t is a
wonderful stimuant after the exhausting
demands of the simple toilet.
Occasionally ireshen the room by
means OF removing the stopper of a bot
tie of fragrant lavender salts. If you
have flowers as the invalid RECEIVERS,
never allow any save the very freshest
ones to remain in the room.
Raise the invalid's head by slipping
your hand under the upper pillow and
lifting it with as much firmness as pos
sible.
Raw oysters are recommended for all
cases Of impaired digestion. They are
strengthening to the nervous organs, and
their natural liquor is valuable tonic.
For those who do not like the flavor OF
milk, the addition of little sugar and a
wineglassful of brandy will render the
nutritious draught palatable. To pro
duce sleep, drink hall-pint of hot water
or hot milk. This is a remedy simple
enough, but it is near y always success
full. Complete darkness conduces to rest,
and dark-green or dark-blue curtains or
shades placed over the windows prevent
the morning light from firing the eyes.
In order to prevent mustard plaster
from blstering, mix the mustard with
the white OF an egg, spread it on pieces
of cheesecloth, and lay over it piece Of
| flannel, in order to keep the air from
reaching it.
To an invalid, the frequent meals, slight
as they are, are events of interest. Then
take care that everything shall be
daintily served Always put fresh nap
kins on the tray, and select china which
harmonic with the broth or the broied
chicken or the milk toast. Always bring
with the bowl or platter little flower, i
possible, bit OF scarlet geranium when
the china is blue or green, a red rose with
white china, or few pansies; and cut
the bread or toast in the shape OF dia
monds or tiny squares. The smallest
attempts at decoration delight and
amuse the patient.
OF course there are certain ways o.
making the time pass pleasantly to the
sick. Reading is pleasure, if the books
be light and the reader stops before the
patient is fatigued.
If the invalid is young, there are many
games that may be played with pencil
and paper. Girls and women sometimes
like to crochet, knit or arrange scrap
book.
Simple things amuse men, women ant
children, for it must be remembered that
the brain power is generally at a low
ebb, and consequently simple pastime:
please which at other times would arouse
no interest whatever.
In the matter of amusements, as wei
as in everything else, good nurse will
always be able to obtain the creates,
benefit with the least expenditure o
effort.
How to Prepare Tempting Menu for the Sick
Light diet, says Mary A. Boland, in tn,
Handbook of Invalid Cooking, consist.
of everything included in liquid diet
fruits, such as grapes and oranges; por
ridge OF granum or farina, soft cooked
or poached eggs, dry, water, milk ant
cream toast; the maigre soups, such al
celery and mock bisque and chicken; deli
cate buildings, coffee and velvet cream
and baked custards, with perhaps TO
dinner meat ball, small beeisteak o
roast beef and baked potato.
Jellies made with gelatine, especial,
when favored with wine, are VALUABLE
form of food with which to make tn
transition from liquid to light diet. The
are palatable, nutritious, and, being il
solid form are satisfying to the minds n