Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-28

health, and not one of them can be
safely omitted If it is to be retained.
However. in spite of wisdom and care
or possibly because Of lapse and
neglect of one or more of the above
rules, sickness does come into the
home. It 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 i'll is often puzzling question.
It Is not always possible or necessary
to have professional nurse, and yet
it is necessary that the patient should
have good care in order that there may
be speedy and thorough recovery.
Perhaps it were we'll 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
common sense is far from right. It Is
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, trifes
though they may seem. may be the
very points which hasten or retard the
patients recovery.
Arrangement Of the siokroom.
Unless the illness be Of an infectious
nature. so that the patient must be
isolated from the rest Of the family,
his own room will be most satisfactory
to him. But when choice Of rooms
can be made select one that is cheer
full and with as little unnecessary fur
nishing as possible. Restful for the
patient will It be If the wall paper Is
quiet in design and color. Such should
be the decoration Of bedroom at any
time. but it is doubly necessary in time
of sickness. Conspicuous wall paper
and bright colors are exceedingly irri-
tating to weak nerves. A room without
a carpet is best, In health as we'll 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 a 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 tho Patients Bed.
About the first thing to be consid-
e. kI~4 oh a
good, firm mattress, not too SOFT with
blanket or pad under the lower
sheet. The bedding should be light
and warm, first the cotton sheets, then
q blanket or two, as the case may re-
quire, and over this another sheet OK
dimity spread. The ordinary white
counterpane does not add materially
to the warmth and is too heavy for
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 a 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 a
yard wide will be needed under the
draw sheet. It requires considerable
skill to arrange bed for sick Der,