The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-05-10

IN THE sIcKRooM.
health, and not one of them can be
safely omitted II it is to be retained.
However, In spite Of wisdom and care
or possibly because Of a lapse and
neglect OF one or more Of the above
rules, sickness does come into the
home. 1t is the result Of some trans
gression Of natures laws and brings
its attending anxiety and care. What
to do when some member of the fami-
" is Ill Is often a puzzling question.
It is not always possible or necessary
to have a professional nurse. and yet
1t is necessary that the patient should
have good care in order that there may
be speedy and thorough recovery.
Perhaps it were well If the first d.
rection given in times of sickness
should be, Use common sense and
practice rational methods" and yet
sometimes there is so little real under
standing Of the body that ones in
depreciation Of rational methods and
CQAlLlOu bcASC 10 1dk 1AOA AASAt ~ 10
not the intention in this article to give
technical instruction in nursing In any
sense. Merely an attempt will be
made to point out some Of the little
things which should be done and OBJ
served In any house where there Is
sickness. These little things, trif1es
though they may seem. may be the
very points which hasten or retard the
patients recovery.
Arrangement of the sickroom.
Unless the illness be of an infectious
nature, so that the patient must be
isolated from the rest of the family,
his own room win be most satisfactory
to him. But when choice of rooms
can be made select one that is cheer
ful and with as little unnecessary fur
nishing as possible. Restful for the
patient will 1t be Ii the wall paper is
quiet In design and color. Such should
be the decoration of a bedroom at any
time, but it is doubly necessary in time
of sickness. Conspicuous wall paper
and bright colors are exceedingly irri-
tatfng to weak nerves. A room without
a carpet is best, in health as well as
sickness, but in ordinary attacks Of H.
ness 1t Is wiser not to disturb the or
binary appearance of the room, as it
might have depressing effect on the
patient But during fevers and severe
surgical cases there should be no car
pet or draperies to hold and breed dis
ease germs.
Making the Patients Bed.
About the first thing to be consid-
cred Is the bed. 1t should have a
good, firm mattress, not too soft, with
q blanket or pad under the lower
sheet The bedding should be light
and warm, first the cotton sheets, then
a blanket or two, as the case may re-
Quire, and over this another sheet or
dimity spread. The ordinary white
Counterpart does not add materially
comfort. The pillows should be am.
pie in number and varying In size.
There should be small ones to tuck
under the shoulders, between the
knees or for rest to the back when
the patient becomes weary Of his posi-
ton There should be one or two
larger ones to serve as supports when
the patient sits up during GONZALES
cence. To make the patients bed
properly three sheets are required, be-
sides the blankets, pillows and spread;
also in case Of severe illness a piece
of rubber sheeting three-quarters of
yard wide will be needed under the
draw sheet 1t requires considerable
skill to arrange a bed for sick per-
son so that Ii will be thoroughly COM
Portable and free from wrinkles. Begin
operations by drawing the under sheet
ing it In well under the mattress. Pin
1t at each corner with strong safety
pin IL the patient is heavy or inclined
to be restless. Over the under sheet
and across the middle of the bed lay
the draw sheet, which may be a full
sized sheet, folded in half, or a smaller
one, covering about three-quarters Of
a yard, In the center. IL a rubber is
used 1t should be put on under the
draw sheet, firmly pinned to the mat
tress on both sides. The latter is par
ticularly useful, because it keeps the
under sheet clean for a longer time
and may be changed without disturb
ing the patient to any extent
In putting on the upper sheet leave
a good margin turned over at top to
cover the blanket. Tuck both sheet
and blanket In well at the foot so
the patient may turn comfortably with
out disarranging the covers. Pillows
should be fitted smoothly into cases
large enough for them or they will be
uncomfortable. Three points to OBJ
serve about the sickbed are perfect
cleanliness. no crumbs and no wrin-
kles
Care of the Room.
1t is hardly necessary to say that
the sickroom should be kept absolute
~ clean, and yet it is not unusual to
find decided signs of disorder about 1t.
Soiled towels and linen are seen, emp
ty cups and dirty dishes are often left
on the table for hours after they have
been used, and there is a general air
of disorderliness that is not only
against all rules of sanitation, but an
noying to the patient as we'll Any
thing used about the patient-clothing,
bedding and dishes-should be remov-
ed from the room at once and disin-
fected If there is the slightest infec-
ton about the disease. This is impera-
o. h. -
of the family. Even when there is no
infection common decency demands
this attention to the patient
The air of the sickroom should be
kept pure at all times 1t is almost