The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-17

Hoods Sarsa parilla.
service he preferred an old Irish woman
or an old colored nanny. Very different
from this sentiment is that which was
expressed by Dr. w. r. Lusk in an ad-
dress before the Belvue Training school,
in New York City, few years ago. in
which he said when speaking Of the Old
/ time nurses: 'aThey were hideous crew,
callous to suffering and brutaIly indif-
ferent to death. Upon my service, as I
recall them, one was addicted to the use
of opium, another decrepid with years and
wholly imbecile, and the third 1 always
think of as the embodiment Of all that
was wicked, cruel, mean and mercenary."
This gloomy reminiscence Of DR.. Lusk
could hardly be true in all instances, for
in almost, If not all, communities there
were found both men and women who
were earnest, seIf-sacrificing and worthy
Of their calling, but for want Of training
they were inefficient in their work More
over, the number was not adequate TO
the demand, and physicians frequently
found themselves unable to secure a suf-
f1cient number Of nurses.
With the dawn of antiseptic surgery the
medical profession was revolutionized,
and the demand for trained assistants be-
came a necessity. Heretofore the partic-
ular work of the nurse was to make the
patient comfortable and administer medi-
ciHes as directed by the physician. With
the new order Of things, the nurse must
as thoroughly appreciate the necessity for
asepsts; she must be as familiar with the
technique of operations, the preparation
Of instruments and the sterilization of
dressings as the surgeon himself These
accomplishments could only be attained by
thorough instruction and long practice I'M
der competent instructors. Hense the
training school, with its course Of instruc-
tion which includes dressing Of minor in
juries, management of various appliances.
the best methods Of friction and massage
the management of helpless patients
making beds, moving. changing. and Civ
ing baths in bed, bandaging, making band
ages and rollers and lining splints; pre-
parig suitable foods, amount TO be given.
cooking and serving delicacies to the sick;
the preparation of antiseptfc dressings
the preparation of patients for operation.
the care Of patients after grave opera
tons, the preparation of private houses
where operations must be performed. the
best practical methods of supplying fresh
air. warming and ventilating sick rooms;
the Importance of observing the change of
temperature in these rooms. They are
taught how to take care Of wards and
rooms without disturbing the patient.
They are taught TO make careful obser-
vations and to keep accurate clinical rec
ords for the information Of the attend
ins physician. They are taught to observe
the secretions, the expectorations. the
pulse, the skin the temperature OF the
body. the intelligence as stupor and de-
lirium, the breaking, the sleep, the con-
dition Of wounds eruptions. the effects of
diet. the effects Of stimulants or Of medi-
cines, and they are taught the manage
ment of convalescents. The instructions
are given by the superintendent and by
visiting physicians andsurgeons at the bed |
side OF the patients when this is prac-
ticable, otherwise by lecture and recita-
tons
The aim Of all instructors is to Undue
the nurse with the high sense Of her re-
spOusibilities and the confidential nature
Of her duties and to inculcate a profes-
sional code similar TO that which IS a
time-honored tradition of the medical pro-
fession.
The cultivation Of cheerfulness and the !
kindred virtues, patience and neatness. /
have stated that with the dawn Of anti |
septic surgery the trained nurse became |
a necessity. The question may be asked. |
Are the benefits derived in harmony with |
the necessity incurred?
I would answer that antiseptic surgery |
has revised mortality tables: it has pos
sible operations heretofore impossible: It /
has saved the lives Of hundreds that must
have otherwise persisted: it has removed /
the dread Of infection lit has robbed the I
military hospital of its terv6rs which for (
merry made it almost a charnaI house. /
Hospital ganErene. the dread Of the milf /
tary surgeon. has almost entirely disap- |
peared from the category OF diseases.
Prior n the DAYS Of actiseptics. ID per !
cent Of those admitted 70 lyi1sin hospitals 7
in this country died OF child-bed or pue-- /
peTal fever, and the mortality in similar /
institutions on the continent q Eurone /
was even greater than this. Under the /
antiSepJic management this friEhtful (
death rate has been reduced - only a /
fraction Of ! per cent. During the YEAR 4
past, in the new lyiRg-in hospitals in New
York City. where SEQ Qatierts were ad-
mitted. only one death vas recorded from
this cause
Anusepsis is based upon the germ
theory Of disease, and is comprehension
is not limited 70 the practice of surgery.
but IS the basis of treatment N every
form OF Contagious and infectious DIS
eases.
These ara some Of tts benefits. and IN
the practice the trained n1rse IS the in
diSpensihle the trusted assistant ~ The
phyician and surgeon ard the training
school is desa-vedly considered ore n the
greatest aids n the medical profession
and one of the great achievements o. the
nineteenth century.
The work and usefulness ~ r-a -~zf-ss
nurse 90 not end With her assistance ~
the doctor. but in the line ~ preventive
Continued on secoas PaEeJ