The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1897-02-10
ASSISTING rnE pocroR.
4 Trained Attendant IL Great Help IN
sickness.


Sickness
While there Is nothing more offensive
to the intelligent physician than what
may be called officious and undue anx.
iety TO assist him In performing the dn-
ties Of his calling, there Is probably no
one In the world who more keenly sp-
preciates the service which q trained
mind, eye and hand can render him. II
the case Is serious short visit Is scarce
Iy sufficient 10. acquaint him with all
of it's details. Indeed. ii often happens
that the excitement of his coming pro-
duces an entire change in the patients
state, and when he Is ready to make
his customary examination the symp-
toms may indicate that which does not
exist at all.
Suppose there were an attendant ca
pabIe of taking the patients tempera-
ture of pulse or of making on paper a
note of the hour at which certain pc
culiarities were most clearly indicated.
Most people cannot afford TO keep u
physician in constant attendance, and
many life has been sacrificed because
the doctor had no means of knowing
certain facts connected with his pa
tents illness which would have been
of vital Importance to him and might
have assisted him in saving life.
Every child should be taught what
the pulse is, and why and how we feel
IL at the wrist. II is very easy to under
stand how to tell the pulse, and not al
ell difficult to learn to use the clinical
thermometer. Imagine the value to
doctor of carefulIy-kept record of the
patients condition from one of his
visits to another. With what confidence
could he pursue his treatment and give
his directions, and what a relief to real
ize that his interests are left in such in.
telligent hands!
Very few persons stop to think of the
responsibilities that rest upon the med
ical man. No matter how careless the
attendants or how disregardful they
may be of administering the medicines
prescribed. they are rarely, If ever, held
to account. On the other hand, the doc
tor is blamed for everything; often, in
deed, when a violation of his most posi-
tive order furnishes the cause for this
cruel censure.
An important item is to have every
thing in readiness for the doctors visit.
Do not wait until you see his horses
head coming round the curve, then hur-
ry and hustle and hustle about, upset
ting the patients tranquility and your
own; but make 1t your business. as soon
as the invalid has breakfasted, to put
everything in order, so that there may
he no confusion at the last moment.
Have clean towels, fresh water and
whatever other articles he is in the
habit of calling for. Ask if your pres
ence is required in the room; if not,
stay. II is often the case that the doc
tor would like to have an opportunity
of making inquiries that he would hest
tate to make before third person. 1t
is, therefore, always considered in good
form to leave him alone with his adult
patients and give him an opportunity
for at least five minutes talk If he
chooses to take advantage of the inter-
val. If anything is used during the
doctors visit that should be removed
from the room, take it out at once.
Never leave soiled linen, bandages,
dressings or poultices lying about;
they are nauseating to the patient, au
Toying to the doctor and exceedingly
unpleasant objects for the family or
any chance visitor.
While everyone cannot have the OPP
portunity to study thoroughly any
thing that belongs to trained nursing,
most people can, if they try, pick up
little points from doctors and by being
among sick persons, and will in short
time get rather good idea of what
needs to be done in emergencies, and
what one may do to be of very great as
sistance to the physician.-N.YL Ledger.