Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-03-15
HOMEMAKERS COLUMN.
Correspondence On topics Of inseress toths hsdiee
HINTS FOR THE HOME NURSE
IN CASES OF LONG SICKNESS.

Sick nursing must often be done by
the amateur, and perhaps without expe-
rience, we may, any Of US, nnd ourselves
In charge of a serious case Of illness.
On euch an occasion . few things that
can be told In print may be vitality use
full, although nothing can entirely take
the place Of training and experience. To
begin with, the nurse must keep Is well
as possible herself; this IL thing nee
essary for the patient, and too often
overlooked when he IL In the hands Of
loving relatives who feel that the more
they spend themselves the better they
are taking care of him. Not at all; a
WORKOUT nurse will react on the pa
tient 10 twenty ways. The nurse must,
for the patients sake, try to get regular
sleep, even II only little Of Ii, and reg
ular outdoor exercise. No one can nurse
well for more than ten or twelve hours
ut a stretch.
The choice Of sick room IL au i'm
portant thing; better take some trouble
10 move patient Who IL plainly on the
verge Of an extended Illness than To let
him stay In an unsuitable room. First.
10 mxking a choice get room "a much
II be as large rs possible, then make Il
larger by removing all the furniture you
can spare. Put your invalid on mar
row bed, and place that bed go you can
have access To IL at both sides. Get AS
much heat from the sun ~ you can; no
other source OF warmth IL so wholesome.
Often psir Of dark glasses Is q great
help In shading a patients eyes while
the room Is being summed. II the light
annoys In spite Of shading, you can only
redouble your fsithfulness In summing
pillows and bed-clothes. This can not
be done too thoroughly. Sleep can be
won on pillow that has been In the sun
and air all day, when Il refuses utterly
10 visit one that Is fever-sodden.
Bedclothes should be light. The sick
have suffered and are suffering untold
miseries from heavy coverings. They
by no means always know what the
matter Is; they only know they are $50
tired" Eider-do~n quilts are cheap
luxuries now, but they are too warm for
use except where great deal Of heat IL
required. Wooden blankets are the best
things usually.
With patients who are very thin and
weak sn assortment Of pillows Of differ
ent shapes and sizes, down to such as
are not more thsn six or eight inches
wide by ten or twelve long. are q really
precious possession. They can be dis
posed shout the body, between the knees,
under the knees, At u particular angle
under the head, under the hips, In ways
Ia give ease from great suffering. The
sick room should have an open fire, II
possible. II coal IL used, either In =
CRATE or stove. immense relief from wear
ing annoyance may be obtained by put
ting the coal In small paper bags before
Il Is brought In, so that. one ut time,
they can be laid on the fire noiselessly.
II the room IL not warmed by an open
lire, the air IL almost sure TO become uu-
desirsbly dry, and broad. shsiiow ves-
lei filled with water should be kept on
he stove or over the register, or on the
steam heater, ms the case may be, thst
he evaporation may moisten the air.
The necessity OF hot water bag IL
well understood these days, but many
PEOPLE do not know how superior IL one
covered with flannel 10 any other kind.
Many cases that drv beat cannot ease
will give way TO n hannelcovered hot
water bsg II the aannel Is kept wet.
This Is by far the easiest and safest way
OF applying hot water. Bags OF hot salt
sre useful when the water bags won't
90 round" But both those appliances
.hould be scrupulously removed when
ease is obtained; their power Is lost II
they are applied too constantly.
Bed sores are dreadful evil that can
usually be avoided By care 10 time, and
the suffering that results from neglect
Il something TO make the nurse self-re-
rroachful for lifetime. A solution Of
nlum IL good bath for the threatened
skin, which II toughens. Cold cream
or vsseline ointments and n careful use
Of your small pillows are what IL need
ed besides; and all must be applied
with wstchful care.
Rubbing the feet often soothes the
nerves wonderfully. An application OF
the hand will sometimes ease pain that
nothing else can resch. The nurse
should remember what Sir Henry Hol-
lsnd-lopg physician to Queen Vic
toria-ssid In reference 10 giving rest
and relief: that often nothing else was
so important for the sick-the doctors
skill can often accomplish nothing more
than can be secured by simple changes
Of position and devices for easing so ~
10 make chance for nature TO heal. IL
this Is work for the doctor IL Is more
often markedly the nurses field, and her
best invention will find room In it.
Demorest's Family Magazine.