Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-15
The Subject Of Home Nursing.

At a recent informal talk on Home
Nursing before a woman's club, pny
sfcian spoke of the value OF an agreeaDie
outlook to the convalescent. He cited
case of a patient of his recovering from
a severe illness, who betrayed on two or
three successive calls nervousness for
which he could not account Finally, on
the second morning. he noticed she
glanced frequently and with an express
sion of annoyance toward the window.
what troubles you out of the win.
dow" he asked her, ana she replied.
..Those tiger lilies.
The room was on the ground floor, and
at the corner by the window was grow
ing a tall stalk of the striped hoWerS.
The wind swayed them lightly. and the
big fellows would reach around. tap at
the window, and peep in. to her intense
discomfort. The plant was promptly cut
down and the patient rested and sept.
Frequently some unsupported thing, II
relevant and unnoticeable to the weii'
produces actual injury to the SICK whose
nerves are acutely sensitive.
suggestion the mothers present touha
of value was the advocacy of the use OF
animal oil in cases of fever and resplra-
tory diseases. The speaker put no laltl
in the mineral oils, as vaseiine. &c, nor
in the vegetable oils, like sweet or oiiVe
oil, for their penetrative qualities. iheSe.
he said, did not penetrate the SKIN deeply
and accomplish the work that iahoiihe.
which is oil of wool. or cod liver on Il
the patient could stand the smell, ala. "a !,
the case of a baby who would NOT miro
the heavy fumes of the fish oil, TINS luo =
cant would be found especially useful as
it nourished as well as soothed aiid
strengthened. He had found, TOO. IN MS
own practice great Dement'S resulting -
the case of sensitive persons, poth cnl-
dren and adults, from the use OF ldhoiilie
as precautionary measure. Persons
found this tendency
much abated and often entirely abohshc,i
by a nightly rubbing of the chest anu
throat with this penetrating OIL. "hlch
suggestion in these days of grip IS worth
passing on.
A caution was given in the matter of
feeding the sick that had significance
for those in health as well. To try TO
feed a patient who is lying down, without
one of the two or three wel-khoWh ap-
pliances-the nvalid's cup, tube ara
more--is not only difficult, but likely to
make trouble. II the liquid runs out al
the corners of the mouth 1t Will very
speedily produce a sore. This is true IL
health also. and accounts Tor many
cold sores among children who are APP
to be careless feeders. They should DC
taught the Importance of using the nap
kin often and neatly at table. Tor ny
gienic as well as tidy reasons.
Present with the speaker was trained
nurse who illustrated deftly and sus-
gestively the bed care of a patient. A
neat brass-finished enameled iron bed
stead was rolled into the drawing room
and the hospital nurse in her uniform
made the bed, changed sheets with the
patient motonless fed him, and in other
ways gave valuable information to tbs
laity One small caution that may be OF
use in some nursery where these beds arr
in evidence is that their skeleton heat
and foot boards are not good draugh
protectors, and if window is open toe