THE SICK ROOM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 27, 26 October 1907, Page 3

THE SICK ROOM.

Assuming that we are called upon to nurse someone dear [to us at a very short notice', ' and-that no/nursb'is available,- what are the -.points in connection' with the room which our common senpe .should point out as ; being; ■ likely l to holp-'us?•• '' ..... f First of all as to its selection. When po3- ; sible, have a sick-robnivatt-ho top, of a house jv aiid let it• bo;tho;':lofticst, airiostl.'.onojavailr, able: Whilst sunlight and air are essential to a good recovery;, it is not- desirable to have the. morning ,'suii,' as" it-may tlip'-pai t ient unduly oarjj;.' Thb' afternocn sun 'is. .excellent, as by that'tiino the first-freshness of, tho day boing.'orpri its'rays are.secured to; cheerihc patient up if distiessod or Liphf is a (iur'a'tive ogont in itsolfj-oxercisiug ii distinct ■iriflueiic'e. iipon tub tissues'-of- tbs?'--body) a proof'of which is given" ! by pla'ntd • that are kep.t,' away, from the light beingbleached or l)lobdless'.y -■ -.Thero should ■ be', a ...wator',supply.',.'and'somo.sort of fitting -'very near, the sick, .room, as an abnridarit supply of fresh water, will be rcquirpcl, . and it will also be necessary, t-o 'heat food, manyi times during' thjj-.djiy, '.of. having, to go .to a; distant; part-of tho hoiiße" for wat£r„ or heating "wearies' the nurse.. ■' i . Avoid a .patterned wall, paper/, if possible ; : - nothingis morfejriiaddoning than to lie-in lipd - too ill to read and- 'coitnt certaiii patterns or 'squar6s'''over,and ovor. again; tllo instinct., to (10,-' sti •proves irresißtji)le..iri' nine wises put of,toil'. Even-' if-!tho.;patient, is not Vary ill, keep-the, room quiet, arid' do -not allow : more ,tliah; -threeiipe'dple:'in.Uf'; atitltei same tirno,' not ; orily' ; bccaus6 of Hhe lioiso and excitement, but_ obviously'- bcchiig6"'tlie ß '-sicli t perspn confined iij, a,small .liqeds all fcho oxygen ho , orlshq,: can get, apd each- extra porsoii .must absorb some of,:ifc. -1 Ventilato the room constantly !during the bourse.-of-tliq day,, and-'avoid-.oxcessivq lieat, ally ordqr.ed'.'by;-'the. .doctor; Sixty degrees

■ * •' - ■ * i < A GIRL'S ;DR.rss Inis linen cqstumo, was made up m paJo green, with pearl buttons'.' 1 "It '-would be suitable for cambric or pique.

Fahrenheit js : a good avorago' limit-, hut no room .should, be colder than 55 degrees :F.' oi hotter than ,68' dog. F. In no case allow sensation to adjudgo.-.tomporatiiro; it 'is, as a' rule, misleading;- alid'thc.tuitpbraturo should bo gauged l>y thermometer.pill} 1 /"' Ventilate the; room at;least, three times a day, besides always having tliQ -window open three inches at the top and bottom. = Should a room get warm: and stuffy, do not let the fire go down,y but cover up the pat-iciit ; warmly, make up the fire, and throw open tho window top.and-bottoiu't'or ton minutes at a time. ' .'«•

Night air need''.not" bp..considered dangeroils, providing tho .pabicut bo ttoll covcrwl j and botween tlio, hours of 2 a.m. and' sunrise, special notiec; should be givon to this, as tho_ vitality;.is;j'ftt'« -very • low ebb during these hours. It .-is well to-remember' thrit when clinnges. (ieeuf iiV tli'e case; it is oWenost botwwn 2 a.m. : and G a.m: Should''a'hoticinble difference in the pulse felt and a blue' look c.oino.-ovcr the- face, send for assistance nt once, blit mcaftwhilo placo hot.'bottles to the feet, give, 'a-' wanri drink or possibly a little stimulant;',for extrqme measures apply a mustard jioiiltice/'over ; the' region of tlm heart, or, failing, that','"even a warm wrungout .flannel wijl oftenmake a . great differones. ' ...■' •; ;r A. wruhg-but.fqinentiition should- always boas hot as possible,.. and .as ,drv as possible. l The way to prepare:it is as follows:— Take a j

piece of flannel or-an-old .vest,and,lay it in l the centre' of; a' towel or; something equally strong. Fold thc ltqjfijl over and over, placo iv lengthways in a bnsin. Pour boiling (itmust be boiling) water oyer this,.and wring' out by patient's-bedside; -If wrung'out -vcty dry, it can bo'placed en-when jcryriiot-with'' impunity; ; but: if. only i.quito moderately li'bt and put on wetf itiiray caiiny, scald, 'vSome-v times--a turpentino fomentation is-.used, ;in which case sprinkle'afew drops of turpcntirie ort'.tlie'■ flannel'.beforepouring the hot• water • oveiSiti . and tho same 'way, Ca'ro.\niusti.bc.taken lest the skin blisters' at all; and'raseline shorild"be 'rubbed lji: after, it : < always. . L'- . ..1. must nbt- to-loft in a sickroom- at night, as,they taktfup'pure air, and give out bad/the .exact.opposite 'of wliat they do inn the day. Definite orders will havo been'given' by».tho cloetor'.as .tpi!tho amount of f , nouirishiriolit;! whether-' patient, is to Im disturbed,' orVnot through,the night. Make a ruld-.of' writing •clmyny exactly limy much is toieii diiriiig both nigHt aiid'day, and what changes rria.v .cccur L: arid ;at,'what times. Wash tho patent'■aH day','taking great caro fie or she is riot oxposed to chill. Don't fuss. ■ n'oisiv Don't he*sepulchural; •Don't' tiilkvin-. whisp'efs. ; Take 'the-.' teiiipera-v tui-o. at,, reghlar intervals! as. tho doctor; miy..?. wish-, and: not oftener.' 'If it . is very high, '■ prqtenel.it.. is Jbw,.' aiidf alWjiys .discbiiragCTtho" jiaiii'qiit ;t!iinlq'iVg. of[ r hVs. tiivii; Ryniptonis.;- ■IS 'is--; marvellous how oftoii siich : blemchtaVy';dir«o> 4 .n.s-those arn;needpd t the' simple things' tlili't'go wrong.;»>■ i