Where serious illness visits a household, and protracted nurs- ing is likely to become necessary, a professional nurse will probably be engaged who has been trained to its duties; but in some families, and those not a few, let us hope, the ladies of the family would oppose such an arrangement as a failure of duty on their part. There is, besides, even when a profes- sional nurse is ultimately called in, a period of doubt and hesitation, while disease has not yet developed itself, when the patient must be attended to; and, in these cases, some of the female servants of the establishment must give their attendance in the sick room. There are, also, slight attacks of cold, influenza, and accidents in a thousand forms, to which all are subject, where domestic nursing becomes a necessity; where disease, though unattended with danger, is nevertheless accompanied by the nervous irritation incident to illness, and when all the attention of the domestic nurse becomes necessary. Doctor's Orders are never disregarded by a nurse worthy of the name. Should she by watching the case think any other treatment or diet would be beneficial to the patient, she should not act upon her own opinion, but state it to the doctor. She should always report to him any change she observes in the patient, which she should be watchful to detect. The hearty co-operation of a nurse is of incalculable help to a doctor. Administering Medicine. Although this is given by medical advice, and at the time the doctor orders it as a rule, it sometimes happens that a bottle sent has only the indefinite directions such as "x'V dessertspoonful twice daily" or "A wineglassful every four hours," and in the case of an amateur being the nurse it may not be given at the best times. When medicines have to be taken at intervals during the day, it is best to give it at first at 10 o'clock in the morn- 288 In the Sick Room ing; if only once during tlie day, then at nine in tlie morn- ing, or at bedtime; if twice, at lo and 4 o'clock. It is always safest to have a medicine glass marked with the different measures, for the size of the spoons may con- siderably vary in different households; and it cannot be too firmly impressed upon the nurse, whether professional or amateur, that regularity and exactitude in the administra- tion of medicine are absolutely essential, the only deviation from the time fixed for it being made when the patient happens to be asleep at the specified hour. Professional Nurses need not only the qualifications already named in addition to their training, they should be physically strong, have good health, nerves well under control, and be sure that nursing to them is a congenial occupation. What a friend or relative can do for one she holds dear in the time of sickness, the taxing of strength, the loss of sleep that she makes light of in such a case, is no proof that she is fitted for the post of a professional nurse. The very self-sacrifice is against this, for a nurse must do what she does in a business like way; she must not over-fatigue herself, should eat, drink and sleep well, and take regular exercise; while it should not be (as it is so often to the amateur) actual suffer- ing to see pain inflicted when it is necessary that any opera- tion be performed. She should be like the surgeon, able to think of the future good instead of the present suffering.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Where serious illness visits a household, and protracted nursing is likely to become necessary, a professional nurse will probably be engaged who has been trained to its duties; but in some families, and those not a few, let us hope, the ladies of the family would oppose such an arrangement as a failure of duty on their part. There is, besides, even when a professional nurse is ultimately called in, a period of doubt and hesitation, while disease has not yet developed itself, when the patient must be attended to; and, in these cases, some of the female servants of the establishment must give their attendance in the sick room. There are, also, slight attacks of cold, influenza, and accidents in a thousand forms, to which all are subject, where domestic nursing becomes a necessity; where disease, though unattended with danger, is nevertheless accompanied by the nervous irritation incident to illness, and when all the attention of the domestic nurse becomes necessary. Doctor's Orders are never disregarded by a nurse worthy of the name. Should she by watching the case think any other treatment or diet would be beneficial to the patient, she should not act upon her own opinion, but state it to the doctor. She should always report to him any change she observes in the patient, which she should be watchful to detect. The hearty co-operation of a nurse is of incalculable help to a doctor. Administering Medicine. Although this is given by medical advice, and at the time the doctor orders it as a rule, it sometimes happens that a bottle sent has only the indefinite directions such as "x'V dessertspoonful twice daily" or "A wineglassful every four hours," and in the case of an amateur being the nurse it may not be given at the best times. When medicines have to be taken at intervals during the day, it is best to give it at first at 10 o'clock in the morning; 288 In the Sick Room ing; if only once during tlie day, then at nine in tlie morning, or at bedtime; if twice, at lo and 4 o'clock. It is always safest to have a medicine glass marked with the different measures, for the size of the spoons may considerably vary in different households; and it cannot be too firmly impressed upon the nurse, whether professional or amateur, that regularity and exactitude in the administration of medicine are absolutely essential, the only deviation from the time fixed for it being made when the patient happens to be asleep at the specified hour. Professional Nurses need not only the qualifications already named in addition to their training, they should be physically strong, have good health, nerves well under control, and be sure that nursing to them is a congenial occupation. What a friend or relative can do for one she holds dear in the time of sickness, the taxing of strength, the loss of sleep that she makes light of in such a case, is no proof that she is fitted for the post of a professional nurse. The very self-sacrifice is against this, for a nurse must do what she does in a business like way; she must not over-fatigue herself, should eat, drink and sleep well, and take regular exercise; while it should not be (as it is so often to the amateur) actual suffering to see pain inflicted when it is necessary that any operation be performed. She should be like the surgeon, able to think of the future good instead of the present suffering.

The century cook book