NURSING KAFFIRS IN CAPE COLONY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue II, 13 January 1900, Page 90

NURSING KAFFIRS IN CAPE COLONY.

"A Nurse in South Africa,” writing in "The Hospital Nursing Mirror” on “Nursing Katiirs in Cape Colony,” says: —Kaffirs are very quick at languages; a few weeks in hospital, with just a little instruction from a fellow |>atient, will enable a man to speak enough English to make it possible for him to talk to the nurses, to whom he is almost always respectful in as far as he knows how, usually addressing them by a name which in Kaffir means literally "the chief’s daughter,” and is THE HIGHEST TITLE OF RESPECT that can be given to n woman. The word “please,” or its equivalent, is not found in the Kaffir vocabulary. A native trying to express himself in English invariably says, "You must give me,” etc. He will say "Thank you” with a broad grin upon his goodnatured face. It is by no means unusual for Kaffirs, even children, to be able to speak Cape Dutch, English and sometimes a little German. Enteric patients, as a rule, do well if they come into hospital in the early stages of the disease, for the Kaffir does not find it irksome to have to lie still, and the amasi. or sour milk, which is the diet usually prescribed, is a favourite article of diet with him. He cheerfully gives himself into the doctor’s hands to be treated as he deems best. Both men and women are fond of medicine, and it is often a grievance when, as a patient becomes convalescent. the medical superintendent stops the mixture. To see other patients getting medicine and he none, is a thing a Kaffir cannot stand. Upon one occasion a nurse in charge of the native wards, which were very full of bad cases, found a difficulty, owing to THE SMALLNESS OF THE NURSING STAFF and the limited number of native servants, to get some of the cleaning done. Those convalescent patients who are able to do so are expected to assist in the cleaning of the utensils if desired. The nurse accordingly handed a Kaffir a tea kettle, requesting him to polish it; he refused. The need was pressing, and a happy thought struck her, and. turning to him, she said. “If you do not clean this kettle, I will not give you any medicine.” In a short time the man returned with the kettle, nicely polished: and received his reward—a dose of cough mixture, composed principally of camphor. ® ® © HAIR CURLING AN ART. In the curling of the hair there is a certain knack to be acquired before attaining that much desired result, so dear to every owner of straight locks —the naturally curly look. Even a pretty face is improved by the addition of curls, and a plain one is softened and made more attractive by turning the harsh outline into a wavy mass; for the faces are few that can stand the classic severity of a Grecian coiffure. The question, therefore, is how to manage one's unruly locks, how to supply, to the best or one's ability, what Nature has denied—the pretty, rippling tresses which will elicit from some good natured acquaintance the remark that she always “thought your hair was naturally curly.” First, there are the numberless appliances for turning one’s head into a bristling porcupine by night. When a girl surveys herself in her mirror before retiring and catches a glimpse of a disfiguring halo, which, even the addition of blue bows will not render becoming, she sighs reflectively, considers the discomfort of sleeping on knobs of hair, and takes to the inevitable—the curling irons. To obtain most satisfactory results, a tight curling is not advisable. That destroys any possible look of Nature’s handiwork—and surely straight locks are preferable to “frizzes.” A very important factor is that of curli”g the hair artistically, for there can be no illusion about a beautifully curled pompadour while the back hair is uncompromisingly stiaight. If a low style of coiffure is worn it is only necessary to curl the front nnd sides, hut where the hair is dressed high it is most Important not to neglect the back of the head. This will, at first. Im* awkward work, but will grow less difficult with practice, nnd nothing is prettier than a soft outline at the nape of the neck.