The times., 1897-05-09
WHAT TO DO IN "A SICK ROOM.
Advice From Professional Nurse
for the Aid OF the Atnaiteur.

i AiInOSv every woman Is cdiicu upon sOfife
time in her life to arrange room for
sudden Illness. Often it is simply made
dark and the bed turned around for con-
venience Since, however, a very slight
| illness may develop into something quite
| serious, 1T is wise to have the room con-
yenently arranged. 1t should be as re-
motc as possible from the noise of the
house. but above all it must be sunny.
| There must be hot and cold water near at
hand, and fireplace is desirable
A bare floor with small rugs is not n
necessity, except in case OF contagious
disease, but it is always best. for 1t is not
possible to keep carpet clean during an
illness, while rugs can be easily carried
out and put quietly.back asoiten as neces-
sary All hangipgs and draperies should be
taken down. as they hold both dust aud
odors, and all uhnecessary furniture should
be taken out
Two small tables, a large easy chair.
the bed-a small iron one is best-and
cot for the nurse are all that is necessary.
Cover the tables with towels and keep them
fresh and clean. Place one table out Of
sight of the iriyalid. and upon this keep
the night lamp. together with a small tray,
holding two thin glasses, large and a
small one: graduate glass, teaspoons
and medicine. On the second table place
the tea service. with alcohol lamp and
other things generally used
A large closet Where all the accesso-
ries of an Illness can be Kept near al i.and
is great convenience
The invalid's bed should be immaculate
The mattress of the bed should be smooth
and firm, and in two pieces, so 1T can he
easily turned and kept even. 1t should
be protected with a Quilted pad. vi hich can
De bought by the yard at the stores The
under sheet must be drawn highland pinned
il necessary to keep 1t in place. Over the
top sheet blankets may be used according
to the season.
If a spread is needed, use the bghtest
thing possible, even a fresh sheet is prefer
able TO the heavy fInaiseles spread, 10
much used. eeseclothcomfortabe
is convenient for extra warmth al night,
but heavy cotton quilts or colnfortables
should never be used Tney are exhaust
ing from their weight. as well as inper-
vious. Pillows should be OF feathers and
not OF down.
Under no circuin stauces should a nurse
ever sleep with the patient. She should
have her own cot or Couch in the same
room.
Noolen dresses should not be worn by
the nurse while on sluty. They are not
easy to keep fresh in an insald's re IN.
Odofs cling to them. Lint from the bed
sticks to them, and they never lcok as
clean and cool IS gingEam. If d large
apron is worn it Keeps the dress clean
and can be easily changed OF course,
fnrbelows and Jewelrg are out of place
in an invalid's room. See that dress and
apron are not staIchea stiff, or the rustic
viii be annoying Wear noiseiess shoes
and have night wrapper ready TO slip
on at a moments notice duIing the night.
Food Dd its preparation for invaii,ls is
a most important subject
There are but few OF the ordinary dishes
on the home table that are universally III
diSestible IL property prepared Among
these few the most common are mashed
potatoes and fresh bread, neither OF which
should ever be served to an invalid unless
il has been well proved that no trouble
follows theiruse Fried things are another
menace TO delicate people, and unfortunate
ly many invalids ike them.
Ordinarily the most nourishing feed may
be selected from the usnai seryicc 1t
should be tlaintify arranged IN smaIlluan-
titles and made-as attractive rs possible.
A Auyone who has ever been i'll knows the
disgust and even nausea caused by the
sight of "A tray leadeyl with a hearty
siinner, no rnateer fpw goesfst may be-
To one not eresIFtaned 10 the care Of
fnvalids 1T sSspa itnpossible to have
some nourishnfrss reaify every three heurs
and to vary tifeflst ssfffcientiy to prevent
nenotony ThRre 1aast be system aud or-
der in. this asSin ali Else, OF the glass OF
milk will conc toS near the meal hour
and sotakc agayshe relish for the ,linner,
or, as often happens- all the food given one
sIay will be sdtsi, and when it proves too
much for the ha tieSt almost nothing will |
be given for kafne tifsle. As a result the |
patient gets at weak and faint for want |
of proper noaristrnent, anu fanties indi- |
gcstion is the trouble.
If some one member of the family can |
assume the responsibility of preparing the |
food for the@invalisi- and VIII plan FOR |
each meal early in the day, there will be |
no disappointment. Have always on hand |
good, plain, homemade broth, and be |
sure all fat is taken off before it goes |
to the invalid. Fresh fruit can generally |
be given and should be served cold Milk /
with cracked ice is relished, when with |
out iceitis refused. Hotmilk, well beaten.
if given at night, will often produce |
sleep, and il given after midnight will /
prevent the early morning depression. /
Some people cannot take milk pure, but |
il it is diluted with hot or cold vichy |
or settler is more easily digested. Rroth, |
not too strong and in small quantities, |
can always be used in place of milk.
For solid food the best meats are rare |
beef, lamb, chicken and brds-broiled,
not fried. Oysters, sweetbreads and other
delicacies suited to the individual taste
are all good If not too rich in prepara ton
Thin, homemade bread. with plenty OF |
fine butter, is all right If the bread is at
least day old. Find out, + possible. what
the patient likes, but never ask If any
particular thing is desired, take care that
it is served just right. See that hot
things are served very hot and cold things
iced.
Give nothing fat. nothing fried and moth
ing highly spiced. Then. with plenty of
are beef. good milk. broth, thin bread
and butter. and some fresh vegetables |
given regularly. the invalid should soon
give place to hearty. healthy indi vidual.
Do not attempt to care for a nervous |
patient, or. in fact, any patient in your
own family, if in any way a nurse can
be employed. The patient rarely does as
well. and the nervous strain and anxiety
is often the cause OF another Illness in
the family.
IT, however, a nurse is out of the nues-
ton. detail one member Of the family to |
care for the patient and see that she is