FLOWERS HEALTHFUL IN SICK ROOMS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XVI, 16 April 1898, Page 494

FLOWERS HEALTHFUL IN SICK ROOMS.

(’ut flowers are not injurious in a sick room, and there is no sense in removing them at night, as is the general custom. If their presence has any effect whatsoever, it is to cheer the patient, whose monotonous surroundings are brightened by these touches of lieanty.” So says Dr. Graeme M. Hammond. This will l>e news to any one whose experience includes confinement in a sick room, either at home or in a hospital. A true lover of Howers loves them at al I times and seasons, sick or well, and to such a person it always seems cruel to banish the fragrant blossoms at any time, even though medical advice lias hitherto held no loophole open by which these favourites might share with its sanction the sleeping room of an invalid. Therefore, many will gladly welcome the opinion of Dr. Hammond, the celebrated nerve specialist, who is the first to {mblicly take a stand against the time lonoured and rigidly olwerved custom

of Hower banishment from sick rooms during certain prescribed hours. The public hospitals do not differ from this in tlieir rules. At the NewYork, Presbyterian, St Vincent and others I was informed that flowers are invariably removed from the (totients’ rooms at night, as it is considered unhealthy to allow them to remain there. In view of the recent stand taken by the principal of the Eastport (L. 1. public schools in regard to prohibiting all potted plants in his schoolrooms, liecause he con sidered them a means of disseminating scarlet fever, Dr. Hammond was asked his opinion, and in the discussion freed not only growing plants but even cut flowers from the injustice heaped upon them by memliers of the medical profession anil numliers of their followers. Continuing his remarks upon the subject, Dr. Hammond said:

‘ Growing plants are healthful in a school room or anywhere else, and it is nonsense to say they can lie the means of disseminating scarlet fever. If the principal of the Eastport (L. I.) public schools holds this opinion, as he ha* been quoted, and as a result intends to carry out his idea by lianishing all plants from the rooms, then he shonld also take the precaution of having all the pupils’ heads shaved, so that the germs could n it lodge in their hirsute adornment. Besides, it would be well to compel each child to take a daily bath, flavoured highly with carbolic acid. ‘ It is a well-known fact that plants give out oxygen an<l consume carbonic acid, while the reverse is true of people. Therefore it can be readily seen that a combination of the two in the same apartment would be anything but harmful.’