The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1904-10-15

water ana lala length wise along the full
length Ct the spine, reaching from the
otter towel at the base of the brain
downward. The cold towel next to the
I=sIia. and the dry one under it will keep
the bedding and clothing dry. Now let
the patient lie upon this ard rest deli
ciousiy comfortable. If he desires to
have this changed after it becomes
heated for the other cold cloths, do not
hesitate, but keep on with the cooling
| process, and your perseverance will
be rewarded BY seeing the changed look
in the eye. ard hearing the words Of
gratitude from the lips. You may have
turned the tiGe of the fever, even though
the orthodox time for it to run has not
passed, and you have certainly given the
sufferer a great lift on the road to re
| covery
It is well at this time to look after
| the condition of the feet They will
probably be found quite warm and
comfortable. but the blanket is grow
ing cool, and nothing is more uncon-
Portable than cold wet blanket when
the thing desired is warmth If,
| therefore, it is beginning to grow cool,
and the feet are comfortable, it has
accomplished its purpose and should
be removed. The feet should then
| be wrapped snugIy in warm, dry
blanket, and they will probably retain
| the present temperature. for during
this heating and cooling process You
have established an equilibrium Of the
circulation and the blood is passing
in a natural manner throughout all
portions of the body. The congestion
at the principal point Of danger, the
i head, has been relieved,
A complete cure has not, however,
been effected in this short hours
work, and there must be no relaxation
of your efforts if you wish to be sue
cessfnl. The time of your work in
scoring the first point must depend
upon two things: First, the feelings
OF the patient, and second, upon your
own judgment. The entire time re-
quired may not be over half an hour.
or it may take an hour and half
Using all Of the gentleness possible,
not allowing the patient to lift a hand
| or foot 10 help himself, or to raise his
head When changing the towels, with
one hand gently tenderly, lift the
hot, feVerish head, and with the other
remove one bandage and replace it
with the other You can do this very
skillfully after few trials
When you cease from the first
period, let the patient rest. if SO dis
posed, for an hour or perhaps longer;
then carefully note his condition. The
fever is probably still there, but he
feels more comfortable. The feet are
still warm. and, If the body is hot and
dry, again start the cooling process.
This time it may not be necessary to
use the hot fermentation at the feet,
but the cooling process would better
be directed almost wholly to the spinal
column,
1t is well to have, in this case, an
old night-robe. that may be cut open
the full length of the back. and, of
course. there should be no under
clothing on the body. Some people
are in the habit of wearing an under
shirt at night: some even CT wearing
the same one that they have worn
during the day. This should never
be permitted under any circumstances
while living in a civilized country, and
especially must this not be allowed in
case Of sickness. So, now, that you
have everything convenient, gently
roll the patient partially onto his side,
remove the now hot and dry towel
previously placed there. and put in its
stead another cool one and allow the
body to resume its former position.
Il laying on the side is preferred, you
can easily press the cold compress
along the spinal column by the use of
pillows and other bedding Repeat
the changing OF these towels on the
spine as rapidly as they seem to grow
warm. The patients own feelings will
be your best guide. As long as he 1
feels that the right thing is being
done. and likes the process, by all
means proceed When he feels that
he would rather rest. let him rest.
although there are some people who |
are always fearful of troubling people |
when effort is being made in their |
behalf
IT your patient is Of this kind, then
you should Hse your own judgment !
and cease only when you see that the
patient is really weary and would be /
better off resting. If he is delirious, |
this treatment will restore the mental
balance. and he will soon be able 10 /
direct as to his feelings.
BY far the greatest number of fall
ures occur in such cases from giving I
less of that which eools. than enough. |
rather than from OVERRIDING it.
There is often great fear Of con
tagion from fever cases. and this fear
is sometimes sufficient to deter from /
giving the treatment required; but il |
is usually greater than the actual dan
ger IN the future papers shall give /
the method to be pursued in order to |
reduce The chances of infection to the I
lowest possible point. In the mean I
time use plenty of fresh air, get all |
the sunshine into the room that is /
possible To let in and remember the |
tiisinfecting agents spoken Of in praFi- |
Gus lessons. BY doing so. the danger
will not be much. if any, more than it |
is while walking a crowded street.
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