The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-01-12
HOME DEPARTMENT
Conducted by the Home Economics Department of Bere

arms, and take IL over the head. Put
on the fresh one in the same way
over the head first, then over the arms
singly, and then work the gown down
Bathing the patient is another very
essential part Of home nursing. This
should be done when the room is
from ~ degrees to Is degrees +.
Have two single blankets or sheets
To put under and over the patient
while the bath is being given. A
large basin or bowl, two wash cloths.
two or three towels. pure soap (Tvory
soap is very good, plenty Of hot and
cold water and a pail or slop jar for
the waste water are necessary
Place one blanket or sheet under
the patient in the same manner that
the sheets were changed, the other
one, over him and remove the gown.
Begin by bathing the face and ears
first Go over the body in this order:
face, ears, neck, arms, chest and nh
domen, feet and legs, then turn the
patient on side and wash the back,
and while in this position rub the
back and shoulders with alcohol.
Turn the patient on back again and
wash the pubic region.
BE very careful not to uncover at
one time more Of the body than is
absolutely necessary. Wash. dry
thoroly and cover each part of the
body before going on to the next.
Lay towels between the parts being
washed and the blankets, in order To
keep the latter dry. Do not be afraid
Of using plenty Of water on the pa
tient. BE sure to dry thoroly be-
tween fingers and toes and the folds
Of the body. IL the patient Is tired
after the bath, leave him between the
bath blankets for awhile, then put on
the gown and remove the bath blank
cts The bath should he given each
day. about an hour after breakfast.
After the bath the hair should be
combcd and the teeth cleaned
Baths given TO relieve pain or to
reduce the temperature Of the body
should be given only on the advice Of
doctor A cold sponge bath will
reduce fever. Cold and hot packs are
given TO ease pain, TO quiet the nerves
and to induce sleep. When the pack
is given rubber sheet or blanket
are necessary both under and over the
patient To induce sleep in a restless
or nervous patient, two sheets are
wrung from tub Of water at from
10 to so degrees r. Tuck the sheets
about the patient and fold blankets
over the sheets and pin them secure
ly Put an ice bag or ice pack on
the head and hot water bag at the
feet. The patient may be left in this
pack for one or two hours-but no
cold air must be allowed IN strike
him ut this time. This pack will in
duce sleep. Often warm blankets
can take the place Of the warm pack.
but cold applications should be made
To the head and hot water applica-
tions at the feet Ia induce sleep.
The "countcr.irrtant' - anything
hot or cold applied to the skin which
helps to draw the blood b. the surface
and away from an infamed part is
often used to relieve pain. The hot
water bag is the usual one used. The
bag should not be too full. and the
water very hot but not boiling. A
bag filled too full OF filed with boil
| ing water may burst and scald the
patient badly. (For such burn ap-
ply iodine and ointment or salve, OF
moist cloths). The air should be
forced out Of the hot water bag be-
fore using, and the bag wrapped in
/ towel.
Another counter-rritant is the
poultice, made usually from flax seed.
The water should be boiling, then
enough Of the flax seed meal added
to let the mixture drop from a spoon.
A teaspoonful of soda TO half-pint
of water added TO the mixture makes
the poultice light. Beat mixture un-
til it is light, spread on a cloth. fold
in the edges Of the cloth and place
on the infiamed or irritated spot. Do
not use poultces for assesses, as
they keep the tissues warm and moist,
forming conditions favorable TO the
growth Of germs.
Mustard plasters are made for
adults by mixing one part Of mustard
with eight parts Of -four and stirring
this in hot water For children TIE
plaster should he one part mustard
TO sixteen parts -four. To prevent