The times., 1901-06-09
MAKING PATIENTS IRRITABLE.
Trained Nurses Sometimes Entirely
Too BusineSsIikc.
LFrom the Philadelphia Record. }


In an address to a medical society in
Chicago a London physician has noted
the disposition of American doctors TO
avail themselves of improvements Whlch
relieve the profession of much of its for
mer drudgery and cares. Here long pre-
scriptions are seldom written since 1t is
practicable TO prescribe palatable tablets
which offer the best of combinations. by
this system the danger of mistakes on the
part of the physician and blundeTs by
apothecares is greatly reduced Danger
Gus drugs may be given In the form OF
"diurnuleS. or diurnal tablets, ana the
doctor need not rack his uncertain mem
ory as TO the maximum dose. The fun
dose of the drug IS embraced in twelve
tablets, one of which may be given every
hour, two every two hours and SO on
and il is only necessary not to exceed
twelve IN one day. The visitor further
noted that while the trained nurse is ap-
preciated in England. she is not so gen
orally employed as in this country, where
she has relieved the physicians OF much
care and annoyance.
II would be idle to challenge the state
ment that the trained nurse is popular IN
this country IN almost If not all Amerl-
can cities the demand for nurses exceeds
the supply. and in cases OF severe Illness
or where there is no OrderlineSs or self
restraint in a household the trained nurse
is a necessity and blessing. It IS unde-
niable. however, that where the patient Is
q man, and not critically III, the typlCal
trained young woman ls often a source OF
Few men can endure the restraint
which her presence imposes She SHOWS
every mark Of having been cast in a
mold, and of being entirely artificial. Her
fixed and restrained smile indicates only
a stimulated amiability. The precision with
which her hair is brushed back under an
/ impOsSibly neat cap her EoiEeless and
ghostlike glide: her business-like and un-
/ feeling administration Of drops and pow
/ ders with inhuman regularity and without
/ the possibility Of q mistake; her pracuced
/ look Of celestial goodness and superhu-
man Wisdom-aH these are too unlike
I what IS looked for from the spontaneous
and sympathetic woman Of the ministerlng
angel kind. To the average man VINO Is
not too sick to be impressed BY his sur
roundings this ngure OF mechanical per-
/ fection IS more disturbing than would be
| a tipsy coal-heayer IN the sick chamber.
So perfect creature spoils all q man s
1 pleasure in sickness. He can make no
I appeal to her Ympathy-calnOt plead fOI
delay when the nauseOus dose is due, OF
\ conduct himself Ike a spoiled child
which is one of the cOmpensations OF
I illness 20 a man. Perhaps he may be dis
appointed too. When a trained nurse is
I suggested to the inexperienced male he
/ may have visions of q young woman with
human qualities whose feelings will be
! touched by suffering; whose gentle hand
I viii smooth the pillow and cool the fever
/ ed brow, ard that sort of sentimental
/ thing. Only observant and experienced
wives know how sentimental the most
practical Of men-even bank president
/ may be after business hours. When the
male patient finds himself in the hands OF
/ a self-contained and unimpressionabl bic
/ young woman, as exact and methodica
! and unsympathetic as a machine and as
] dead TO his personality as a wooden In
! dian, he Is disposed TO be irritable. How
/ ever efficient she may be- there are cir
| cumstances in which the trained nurse
! may be as oppressive as was the red.
nosed, fat old woman nurse who preceded