num, Syrup of Ipecacuanha, Syrup of Squills,
Sweet Spirits of Nitre, Hoffmann's Anodyne, Chalk
Mixture Powder, Compound Spirits of Lavender,
Anodyne Carminative (Cholera Mixture,) Tincture
of Arnica, Soap Liniment, I^sscnce of Peppermint,
Spirits of Turpentine, Collodion, Aromatic Spirits
of Ammonia, Tincture of Capsicum, Aromatic
Sulphuric Acid, Wine of Colchicum, Glycerine.
527
64
NURSING AND CARE OF THE SICK
In many kinds of illness, especially con-
tinued fevers, and other attacks attended by
great debility, good nursing is well known
to be as important as good doctoring. A
careful physician will direct not only the
medicines of the patient, but also his food,
and all other matters concerning him— as
his covering, changes of clothing, air in his
room, etc. But the carrying out of such
directions must be left to those immediately
in charge of the sick person from hour to
hour ; and questions will occur in the doc-
tor's absence, sometimes of much import-
ance, which those who nurse the patient
must answer and act upon at the moment,
from their own knowledge. Moreover, the
manner' of doing things in the care of a sick
person makes an immense difference in his
comfort. In critical cases it may even de-
cide between recovery and death.
Qualities of a Qood Nurse.
What are the qualities that make a good
nurse? They are kindness, good common
sense, carefulness, quietness, neatness, han-
diness, cheerfulness.
Kind a nurse must be, or mere profes-
sional skill and obligation will fail to effect
all that is needed for the best welfare of a
patient. Sympathy is worth much to a
sufferer. Patience is often called for in at-
tendance upon the sick, and selfish people
do not have a large stock of this, which can
not be bought with money ; ,it must come
from love, or, at least, from genuine kindness
of heart.
Common sense, that is, intelligence such
as most people, not particularly deficient,
possess, will enable any one to learn what is
necessary in nursing, and to do it respect-
ably, at least.
Carefulness is indispensable. One who
will give a dose of medicine without look-
ing at the label on the bottle ; or will
spill out twenty drops when ten were
ordered ; or will upset a breakfast tray on
the bed ; or leave a vessel under the bed for
hours uncovered ; or oversleep when the pat-
ient should have food or medicine, or let the
fire go out ; such an one is entirely unfit to
have charge of a sick person.
528
Exactness in cai'-rying ont the orders of
the physician is the first duty of a nurse.
The doctor is responsible for the treatment
of the case, and the patient and family are
responsible for the choice of the doctor.
The nurse, whether man or woman, who
thinks he or she "knows better than the
doctor," is a very dangerous and unsuitable
person to have about the house.
Sleeping heavily is a weakness from
which some suffer when in care of ill pat-
ients at night. It is a good thing to learn to
wake with a sound or a touch. By fixing it
strongly on the mind, most people can do
this. A break-down may come, just at a
critical moment, then the family is left under
a calamity which might have been prevented
by proper consideration from the start.
Page 199
Presented as published in 1901. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
num, Syrup of Ipecacuanha, Syrup of Squills, Sweet Spirits of Nitre, Hoffmann's Anodyne, Chalk Mixture Powder, Compound Spirits of Lavender, Anodyne Carminative (Cholera Mixture,) Tincture of Arnica, Soap Liniment, I^sscnce of Peppermint, Spirits of Turpentine, Collodion, Aromatic Spirits of Ammonia, Tincture of Capsicum, Aromatic Sulphuric Acid, Wine of Colchicum, Glycerine.
NURSING AND CARE OF THE SICK
In many kinds of illness, especially continued fevers, and other attacks attended by great debility, good nursing is well known to be as important as good doctoring. A careful physician will direct not only the medicines of the patient, but also his food, and all other matters concerning him— as his covering, changes of clothing, air in his room, etc. But the carrying out of such directions must be left to those immediately in charge of the sick person from hour to hour ; and questions will occur in the doctor's absence, sometimes of much importance, which those who nurse the patient must answer and act upon at the moment, from their own knowledge. Moreover, the manner of doing things in the care of a sick person makes an immense difference in his comfort. In critical cases it may even decide between recovery and death.
Qualities of a Qood Nurse.
What are the qualities that make a good nurse? They are kindness, good common sense, carefulness, quietness, neatness, handiness, cheerfulness.
Kind a nurse must be, or mere professional skill and obligation will fail to effect all that is needed for the best welfare of a patient. Sympathy is worth much to a sufferer. Patience is often called for in attendance upon the sick, and selfish people do not have a large stock of this, which can not be bought with money ; ,it must come from love, or, at least, from genuine kindness of heart.
Common sense, that is, intelligence such as most people, not particularly deficient, possess, will enable any one to learn what is necessary in nursing, and to do it respectably, at least.
Carefulness is indispensable. One who will give a dose of medicine without looking at the label on the bottle ; or will spill out twenty drops when ten were ordered ; or will upset a breakfast tray on the bed ; or leave a vessel under the bed for hours uncovered ; or oversleep when the patient should have food or medicine, or let the fire go out ; such an one is entirely unfit to have charge of a sick person.
Exactness in carrying ont the orders of the physician is the first duty of a nurse. The doctor is responsible for the treatment of the case, and the patient and family are responsible for the choice of the doctor. The nurse, whether man or woman, who thinks he or she "knows better than the doctor," is a very dangerous and unsuitable person to have about the house.
Sleeping heavily is a weakness from which some suffer when in care of ill patients at night. It is a good thing to learn to wake with a sound or a touch. By fixing it strongly on the mind, most people can do this. A break-down may come, just at a critical moment, then the family is left under a calamity which might have been prevented by proper consideration from the start.