To some nervous, highly organized persons this would be impossible, and they are therefore unsuited for nursing as a business, althongh they may be the most devoted and patient attendants upon those they love. In the First Stag^e of Sickness, while doubt and a little perplexity hang over the household as to the nature of the sickness, there are some things about which no doubts exist; the patient's room must be kept in a perfectly pure state, and arrangements made for proper attendance; for the In the Sick Room 289 first canon of nursing, according to Florence Nightingale, its apostle, is to "keep the air the patient breathes as pure as the external air, without chilling him." This can be done without any preparation which might alarm the patient ; with proper windows, open fireplaces, and a supply of fuel, the room may be as fresh as it is outside, and kept at a temperature suitable for the patient's state. Fomentations. Sometimes these are medicated and rendered more soothing by the addition of opiates, as in the well-known decoction of chamomile flowers and poppy heads, but the principal object for which they are employed is to convey warmth to a part. The best application of this kind is made by wringing flannel — by means of two sticks turned in opposite directions — out of boiling water, and then, shaking it up, apply it lightly to the part. In this way the heat may be retained for a considerable time. In order to do this thoroughly, two pieces of flannel should be made use of, each of the pieces being about three yards long, and having the ends sewn together so as to admit of the boiling water being wrung out of them. One of these should always be getting ready while the other is being applied. The coarser the flannel the more efficiently does it act; owing to its diminished power of conducting heat, warmth is longer retained. Poultices. There are few applications more constantly in demand in sickness than poultices, and yet few people make them well. Poultices, when made well, should be sufficiently thick to retain their humidity, but not too thick, as they may then press injuriously upon the part to which they are applied. They should be of uniform consistence throughout, and ought to be applied at a proper temperature. This last can generally be ascertained by applying the poultice to the back of the hand or to the face before putting it to the part. 19 io0 In the Sick Room Linseed Meal Poultices. That which is of most frequent use is a poultice of linseed meal. It should be boiled till it is of the consistence of a thick pap, when it will retain heat and moisture longer. Instead of using water alone a decoc- tion of mallows may be employed, by which the emollient properties will be increased. The surface may be smeared with olive oil or lard. A piece of gauze may be applied over the surface✪ Linseed Meal Poultice of the poultice, if it is considered necessary to interpose anything between it and the skin.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

To some nervous, highly organized persons this would be impossible, and they are therefore unsuited for nursing as a business, althongh they may be the most devoted and patient attendants upon those they love. In the First Stage of Sickness, while doubt and a little perplexity hang over the household as to the nature of the sickness, there are some things about which no doubts exist; the patient's room must be kept in a perfectly pure state, and arrangements made for proper attendance; for the In the Sick Room 289 first canon of nursing, according to Florence Nightingale, its apostle, is to "keep the air the patient breathes as pure as the external air, without chilling him." This can be done without any preparation which might alarm the patient ; with proper windows, open fireplaces, and a supply of fuel, the room may be as fresh as it is outside, and kept at a temperature suitable for the patient's state. Fomentations. Sometimes these are medicated and rendered more soothing by the addition of opiates, as in the well-known decoction of chamomile flowers and poppy heads, but the principal object for which they are employed is to convey warmth to a part. The best application of this kind is made by wringing flannel — by means of two sticks turned in opposite directions — out of boiling water, and then, shaking it up, apply it lightly to the part. In this way the heat may be retained for a considerable time. In order to do this thoroughly, two pieces of flannel should be made use of, each of the pieces being about three yards long, and having the ends sewn together so as to admit of the boiling water being wrung out of them. One of these should always be getting ready while the other is being applied. The coarser the flannel the more efficiently does it act; owing to its diminished power of conducting heat, warmth is longer retained. Poultices. There are few applications more constantly in demand in sickness than poultices, and yet few people make them well. Poultices, when made well, should be sufficiently thick to retain their humidity, but not too thick, as they may then press injuriously upon the part to which they are applied. They should be of uniform consistence throughout, and ought to be applied at a proper temperature. This last can generally be ascertained by applying the poultice to the back of the hand or to the face before putting it to the part. 290 In the Sick Room Linseed Meal Poultices. That which is of most frequent use is a poultice of linseed meal. It should be boiled till it is of the consistence of a thick pap, when it will retain heat and moisture longer. Instead of using water alone a decoction of mallows may be employed, by which the emollient properties will be increased. The surface may be smeared with olive oil or lard. A piece of gauze may be applied over the surface of the poultice, if it is considered necessary to interpose anything between it and the skin.

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Linseed Meal Poultice

The century cook book