The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-01-05
HOME NURSING
BY Helen X. kersey. American Red
Cross
Section I

Is very true IN the Held OF health.
The very best way To treat patient
is to begin before he acquires the
disease Build up a strong. healthy
body, ready to resist the attacks
made by colds, grippe, indigestion
and like "minor ailments" and half
the battle is won against disease.
The serious diseases find rich ground
for their deadly work prepared by
these vigor-sapping, ordinary trou.
bles to which we resign ourselves
with the thought, 80 everyone has
colds
Nature has given us bodies suited
to a natural life, but civilization and
our mode Of living demand that we
adapt ourselves to an artificial life:
and the poor bodies are made to suf-
fer. We eat not by appetite but by
/ the clock, and the amount set before
us; we conduct our business accord
ing to business hours, with little
thought as to rest and exercise; we
sleep when we drop in our tracks"
Our motto seems to be, Eat as rap
Idly as possible, sleep as little as pos
sible, go as fast as possible"
Well balanced meals, including lit
tie meat-more for worker out
doors than for one inside-plenty Of
vegetables. such as spinach. cabbage.
, turnips. carrots, besides the usual
potato; fruits every day: little sugar
and fat, and plenty Of pure water
make for comfortable sleep and Wig
orous work. This food should be
well cooked-not swimming in grease
and then well chewed before il is
swallowed. Meals should come al
regular hours with enough time be-
tween them TO give the stomach a
chance TO rest. Eight hours Of sleep
with plenty Of fresh air in the sleep
ing rooms should be enough for most
adults, but children need ten hours Of
rest. Exercise in the open, and FIRE.
quent baths keep the body alive and
tingling. The strong constitution
built up by regular habits Of eating.
sleeping, and exercising is the first
and best weapon against sickness.
The Medicine Closet
To meet the emergencies and usual
trials of the ordinary family. the
medicine closet is an essential. It
need not occupy more than one shelf,
and should not be stocked with pat
ent medicines. 4 few proven stand
bys will suffice for common needs
Iodine for sprains and bruises; al
cohol for sterilizing: an antiseptic
salve, such as carborated petroleum
for broken bruises; aromatic spirits
Of ammonia 10 revive person who
has tainted these are the FIRST aid"
helps. To be sure that one is ready
for an emergency. sterile cloths (ster-
ilized by boiling them inside another
cloth, leaving them 20 dry in it. and
allowing nothing to touch them) and
two.inch sealed bandage bought
at any drug store) must be in the
closet. For the common ailments
keep Amenthol salve to use to mas
sage the infected parts in colds and
headaches; mild laxative for con
stipation TO be used seldom in order
not to allow the body to depend upon
medicine for daily habits). A good
hotwater bottle with syringe attach
ment and clinical thermometer
should also be in this closet.
Nature is anxious to do her work
Of curing disease IL we but give her
a chance. Medicines only aid when
conditions are abnormal. and then
merely assist nature build up what
carelessness and ignorance have brok-
en- down. Pouring medicine into the
body very often causes more harm
than the original trouble.
The Sick Room
When a person becomes i'll, the
first thing he needs is quiet. IL at
az p'ooibl', nv HHoulu DC pldCtu III
a room alone. Neighbors and friends
should not be allowed TO take this OPP
portunity TO visit and "talk him TO
death Quiet and rest give the
body energy TO fight Off the disease.
but il that energy is wasted in listen
ing to well meaning friends tell
about their troubles, the patient will
be excited and worried until the prob
lem Of the doctor and nurse becomes
much worse than the sickness alone
IL the illness is of short duration
and the patient is not very sick, il
is unnecessary to have a room espe-
cially filled for "sick ROOM" but il
is very important that the patient be
away from the rest Of the family and
that he should have as much quiet
"A IL noegihla In Lone. ,....,,. IN