The Chanute times., 1909-01-15
Care ofthe SiCk.

mOuUnS Cndt I0llOW Une Dol1Qay season
than before, for some reason. Some
physicians ascribe it to excesses-
over eating, over work and worry at
this time. But they come and are
liable to come at any time, and while
it is unwise to fear and stand in expec-
tation of Illness 1t is well TO be ready
and know how to manage 1t should 1t
come. The recovery from illness de-
pends more upon the nursing and the
proper care of the sick than medicine
or the physician. This, physicians
have repeatedly affirmed and expert
ence pr wen. Teo little is known a.
bout it by housewife and mother uDon
whom the nursing of the sick IN the
home generally falls. She, as y
rule, CLEANS her knowledge Of this
branch of her education from here and
there and experience. Some are nat
ural nurses and from intuition know
how and what to do. There are new
thsoriss and ideas ways being ad
vanced, but there are some things
upon the subject that every mother
should know In order to hasten the
recovery and ameliorate the suffering
OF the sick.
The room In which the invalid will
have to remain should DO the best
suited for the purpose that is avail
able In the house-large, we'll lighted
easily heated aud ventilated. Th'
ideal heating is hot air aDd fireplace
or CRATE, but one must use what one
has and adapt 1t to the needs in the
best possible way, If stove Is used,
keep a vessel of water upon II, and
when repIenishing the fire do not use
q shovel nor pour the coal into thc
stoye but put a small amount Ia \
paper and place it on the fire and
thus avoid noise and dust. Bare
floors with small rugs that may be
easily shaken are preferable to carpet
which Is good place for germs and
dust to collect. Curtains ana drap
cries and everything that can catch
and harbor dust should be removed
Cleanliness in everything pertaining
to the sick 10 very essential. The
walls may he kept free from dust with
q soft cloth fastened over broom.
A bag made of canton flannel with
the fuzzy side out to put over the
broom is COED, but the leg OF an old
pair of winter uBderarawers answers
the purpose. The handle Of the
broom may be put through the leg
and the large part pulled over the
broom. There is nothing like utillz
ing what one has to advantage. 1t
saves time and expense. II the floor
is carpeted, do not sweep so as to
raise dust, but 60 over 1t with a
dampened bag or cloth over a broom.
A little carbolic acid or other disin-
fectant put irto the water is 4 good
thing. The cloth should be rinsed
. .s :. :s,s :.sa,s water and dried after using It.
A caution should be taken here.
Most disinfectants are poison and
care should be taken to keep such
well cut Of the reach Of the children,
and they should be marked poison.
Many painful and fatal accidents oc-
cur from lack OF care.
Let all the sunshine possible into
the sick room, but have dark blinds
over the windows that the room may
be shaded when necessary. Sunshine
is a wonderful germicids and healer
and It's cheerful rays inspire hope and
courage, which help greatly to hasten
recovery. Air, we cannot get along
without In health and 1t Is much
more necessary In Illness when tn
vitality 10 low and the powers reduced.
The patient caHnet get out into 1t,
80 it must be gotten to him, While
the air must be admitted It should
be so done as net to cause a draft nor
blow directly upon the invalid. Do
not place the bed In front Of q door or
woudew. A screen is convenient
article to have in sick room, but q
clothes rack with sheet thrown over
it answers every purpose to shield the
invalid from drafts while ventilsting
the room. Once day, at least the
room should be thoroughly aired,
first covering the patient up well,
head and all, and protecting him
from the drafts with the screen.
Then open the windows wide until
the yitiatsd air is replaced with pure
fresh air. Then do not remove all
the extra covering at once, before the
air is warmed again. The proper
temperature for the room is from es
TO 70 degrees. In fevers, however, 10
is sometimes allowed to drop as low ~
.o a.. cd ronvalaecinH uatie n II