The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-04
NURSING OF SICK CHILDREN.


All have some idea, and some have very
well defined ideas, as to the necessity of
diversion and amusement as factors in
maintaining health. but it is. perhaps, only
physicians and nurses who realize the true
value of these agents as aids to recovery
from sickness. This is especially apparent
in the case of children, for a sick child,
whose brain and store of knowledge is as
yet imperfectly developed, must naturally
turn to external objects for amusement
and relief from pain and WEAKNESS. Take,
for instance, some new toy or a doll and
place it in a sick childs cot Now, even
if that child be suffering from somewhat
acute pain, or if it has become a chronic
invalid, it will in either case stretch forth
its perhaps pale and shrunken hand and
turn the doll over and over again in crit
ical and wondering admiration, and at the
same time the close observer will notice
the little ones eyes-how for the time be-
ing, they are Illuminated with the light of
JOY. Here the good work really begins.
There is no medicine IN the world that can
comfort bring such results as naturally
flow from the feeling of JOY healthfully
produced in the manner described. and
means will tend to alleviate pain and pro-
mote sleep better and more naturally than
any anodyne medicine that the cleverest
physician can prescribe
The first point is to learn the symptoms
of health. In health the child's face de-
notes serenity; the little one springs in it's
mothers arms, seems happy, or even
merry, and laughs constantly, but perhaps
most likely mischief or destruction going
on; the doll has an arm the less or the
little finger has been poked through some
hole never meant for childrens fingers.
AS smiles and laughter Indicate health, so
do cries point to trouble, and all having
the charge of children should make study
of the meaning of such warnings. The
cries of hunger, pain or anger are all to
be sorted out by the nurse of experience.
The cry of pain is often mistaken for that
of hunger, and the victims troubles may
be aggravated by "stufting" An infant
suffering from pain in the stomach will cry
vigorously and passionately, and, stopping
for brief moment, will draw its legs upon
the stomach; then the cry will burst forth
more vigorously than before, and the limbs
will be bent upon the stomach once again.
be so loud and there will be no tears In
such a case the child becomes aware that
the act of crying increases the pain, and
therefore it suddenly stops Pain in the
head is indicated by a sharp, shrill and
piercing cry, with intervals of low moan
ing or complete tranquility, ending, per-
haps, in sleep until the pain returns again
sufficiently severe to cause the sufferer to
IL iS OrIx
the professional man or properly trained
nurse that can interpret the true meaning
of a sick childs cries. 1t is generally be-
leved that every old woman, especially a
woman that has reared, or even lost, a
number of children, is quite qualified to
perform all the duties of q nurse. Such a
woman will take possession of a sick room
and pose as a great authority, and her
judgment and commands will be acknowl-
edged as infallible. Thus occurs only too
often great mistake, and one fraught
with evil consequences to the patient.
There is yet another mistake often made,
and it is one that applies to the profess
sional nurse. 1t is becoming the fashion
to speak Of the duties of the nurse as dis
tinct from those of tire physician. AS
skilled nursing has become now widely
known, so have nurses (some nurses) as
sumed an infallibility and made an attempt
to limit the duties of the doctor, forgetting
that the nurse is the instrument by whom
the physicians line of treatment is carried
out.
The sick room should be kept at fairly
even and regular temperature, say from 90
to 70 degrees. Too much Importance can
not be attached to this matter. If the ill
OF no
effected by pulling down the blind and clos
ing the curtain before the window, shading
the gas or turning round the child's cot,
so that the little ones face shall be turned
from the light; but do not cut off the in
valid's supply of fresh air by closing the
shutters or drawing the curtains round the
bed. The position Of a sick child may be
one of comfort or discomfort, and is only
too often neglected. If the patient breathes
with difficulty its head and shoulders may
be elevated with firm pillows, as a child
lying fiat on its back cannot take a deep
breath, and such position tends to a flow
of blood to the head and lungs.
How some children shrink from the warm
bath! And no wonder, for the attendant
often prepares the same in the room and
the child sees the scalding water poured
into the bath and the steam rising in great
clouds. The bath should be prepared out
side the sick chamber, and be brought in
with small blanket thrown over it, and,
if the patient be a nervous little thing,
place him upon the blanket and gradually
let him down into the water. Occasionally
a child will have its doubts and fears
Gained by placing one or two corks in the
water for it to play with.
There are cases Of extreme exhaustion
following such complaints as fever and
diarrhea, when great caution should be
observed not to move the patient unneces-
sarily An attack of commissions or faint
ing may result from lifting a child out of
bed. Under such circumstances ii should
be turned from side TO side and so at
mothers arms from indiscreet nursing
who might have otherwise recovered.
Again. after much suffering from some
malady. such as diarrhea, a child may fall
into a kind of stupor, which is really ex-
treme exhaustion. The ordinary nurse will
now think that all desire for food or drink
has passed and the child sleeps on for
food is entirely withheld but it is al this
point that the skilled nurse is really most
vigilant for she recognizes the true condi-
ton of the patient. and never ceases to
watch an opportunity TO give nourshment
She knows that what the child refuses at
one moment it may readily take at an
other; she holds TO the golden rule of a
little and often" and is happy if her
charge can take just teaspoonful of some
nourishment once or twice an hour If the
child takes even this small quantity its case
is by no means hopeless. and the attentive
nurse will perseyere, and. knowing well
that without food the stupor will increase
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