Year: 1873

~ s'a Hints on Nursing. -


- 4 sick room or nursery should be pro
zEiGedz IN which especial careahas been
taken to have nothing which may irri-
| tate the senses of the sick In health we
do not regard a hundred little things
which are an annoyance when We are III.
A conspicuous or peculiar pattern of pa
/ per upon the walls should be particularly
avoided, for strange figures or shapes
are cOnirred pp by 9 morbid sight and
imagination, from suggestive papering.
A creaking or rattling window-blind,
from the very monotony of its sounds
and the inability Of the sick man to turn
IRON It, VIII produee high state of ner-
Eopsness. SO also will crushing win
dow-shade which slips in and out
through partially opened sash. Fa-
tending to the necessary family duties
should be guarded against if possible I;
the smell of the kitchen should never
enteE - ok room. Do not call these
mere trifes-they- are nOt. Do you care
to "put yourself in his place" and test
their importance? I could wish you no
worse misery than to be helplessly laid
on sick bed and obliged to endure
some of these I" trifes, as you may call
them. have known of strong-minded
men who have cried like babies because
some, one has forgotten to close thedoo
tightly, and its chucking together IN a
current of air had soon become so wea-
risome that all self-controI was. gone. Pr


The dress of the nurse should be so
simple and plain, as not to attract at
tention except for its entire neatness and
becoming appearance. plain mate
rial which Will not rustic when moving
about the room is the best. Do rot en-
ter the room with an air suggestive of
your strength and health, inducing
comparison with his weakness in the
mind of the patient. Be in harmony
with the. condition of the sick, thereby
creEdng feeling of support for his fee
bleness. Do not sit in rocking-ehair-
in fact I would not have one in theroom
unless the patient could use it-and COM
mence to swing yourself back and forth
in it it may annoy more than you think.
OF course no one would think of wear
ing heavy boots or shoes insuch place.
Slippers are heavy enough for the little
walking which is necessary. s--4


Learn to think for, as we'll as of, your
charge. Be quick to notice whether
what you do, or do not do, annoys in
any manner. Do not expect to be told,
but understand without any hints. Re
call to mind your own experience and
avoid causing any discomfort. Never
contradict or enter into an argument as
to the right or wrong of any whim which
you may encounter. You must possess
rare tact to out-talk without irritating,
for remember that reason seldom en-
ters into the vagaries of the sick. They
want because they want just as a child
does. --It-is- almost impossible to con
vince person who in health possesses
a strong mind and is used to f-judg.
ment, that his various desires are whim-
steal and therefore it is of but little con
sequence whether they are filed or not.
Some diseases seem to, and in fact do,
set the mind in a greater state of actiY-
ity than when in health.


The appetite is often very fckle, re-
quiring great care and art to please it.
In such cases the more simple, and there
fore the more apt to be forgotten foods,
will usually be most acceptable. Fancy
things are likely to be stale and insipid.
Do not previously inform your patient
that you. viii have some certain thing
prepared for him in such a time. Make a
pleasant surprise by offering tempting
dish of something which has not been an
ticipated for hours.


Finally, never lose your patience and
exhibit a feeling of irritation at any
treatment or lack of appreciation of
your services When health returns you
will experience a pleasure In thinking
that you have contributed in restoring
| it.


Pay attention to the instruction given
with the medicines and be sure that no
mistakes occur at your hands. Famil-
iarize yourself with the nature of the
medicines which you give, and endsav-
or to ascertain whether they are effec-
tive. In this way you can assist the
doctor, who necessarily spending but a
short time at the bedside of his patient,
must depend upon you for information
as to the condition Of your mutual
! charge. THE BjstOuTy.