A healthy person who allows himself to sleep during the day will lose his sleep at night. But it is exactly the reverse with the sick generally ; the more they sleep, the better will they be able to sleep." Try and have everything in order for the night, early in the even- ing, so that there will be no disturbance at the time the patient would naturally sleep. And in the matter of noise in general, remember II 1 62 THE hearthstone; or, life at home. that a loud noise is often less harmful than an unnecessary one. A flapping window-shade, a creaking door, a stiff and rustling dress or squeaking shoes are unbearable evils, and a bustling, fidgety manner is equally so. " Study to be quiet," is the injunction here as well as in other forms of active life, and a calm manner, an even tone and gentle yet decisive movements are of incalculable benefit to a patient. Do not feel that if he used a little more self-control these things would not be noticed. They are half unconscious irritants when one is well, but in sickness, whether of child or adult, there is mental as well as physical pain. The nervous system is unhinged and mor- bidly susceptible, and " the sick person who behaves decently well exercises more self-control every moment of his day than you will ever know till you are sick yourself. Almost every step that crosses the room is painful to him ; almost every thought that crosses his brain is painful to him ; and if he can speak without being savage, and look without being unpleasant, he is exercising self-control." Above all things, do not whisper in a sick-room. The ear is in- voluntarily strained to listen, and in the case of fever, the patient will not only be worse, but often become delirious from the irritation. Never discuss symptoms or treatment before him, and never allow visitors or one of the family to describe similar cases. Nor is it well to continually ask, " How are you feeling now ? " Watch care- fully and learn how to judge for yourself The faculty of observa- tion is seldom cultivated even among the best educated. A trained nurse has this advantage over the untrained, that she has been taught to watch every variation in color or expression, and can tell on the instant what each indicates, while, the ordinary one notices nothing, and is amazed at some sudden collapse. Remember, also, that the horrible monotony of the sick-room is a constant irritation. The well person, no matter what their troubles and anxieties may be, has a thousand resources which unconsciously lighten them, but for the sick there is no escape. Plan to give them a little occupation if they can bear it, or at least move the bed where they can look out of the window. A picture on the wall, changed IN THE sick-room; OR, SANITARY NURSING. 1 63

AI-modernized reading of the original text

A healthy person who allows himself to sleep during the day will lose his sleep at night. But it is exactly the reverse with the sick generally ; the more they sleep, the better will they be able to sleep." Try and have everything in order for the night, early in the evening, so that there will be no disturbance at the time the patient would naturally sleep. And in the matter of noise in general, remember 162 THE HEARTHSTONE; OR, LIFE AT HOME. that a loud noise is often less harmful than an unnecessary one. A flapping window-shade, a creaking door, a stiff and rustling dress or squeaking shoes are unbearable evils, and a bustling, fidgety manner is equally so. " Study to be quiet," is the injunction here as well as in other forms of active life, and a calm manner, an even tone and gentle yet decisive movements are of incalculable benefit to a patient. Do not feel that if he used a little more self-control these things would not be noticed. They are half unconscious irritants when one is well, but in sickness, whether of child or adult, there is mental as well as physical pain. The nervous system is unhinged and morbidly susceptible, and " the sick person who behaves decently well exercises more self-control every moment of his day than you will ever know till you are sick yourself. Almost every step that crosses the room is painful to him ; almost every thought that crosses his brain is painful to him ; and if he can speak without being savage, and look without being unpleasant, he is exercising self-control." Above all things, do not whisper in a sick-room. The ear is involuntarily strained to listen, and in the case of fever, the patient will not only be worse, but often become delirious from the irritation. Never discuss symptoms or treatment before him, and never allow visitors or one of the family to describe similar cases. Nor is it well to continually ask, " How are you feeling now ? " Watch carefully and learn how to judge for yourself The faculty of observation is seldom cultivated even among the best educated. A trained nurse has this advantage over the untrained, that she has been taught to watch every variation in color or expression, and can tell on the instant what each indicates, while, the ordinary one notices nothing, and is amazed at some sudden collapse. Remember, also, that the horrible monotony of the sick-room is a constant irritation. The well person, no matter what their troubles and anxieties may be, has a thousand resources which unconsciously lighten them, but for the sick there is no escape. Plan to give them a little occupation if they can bear it, or at least move the bed where they can look out of the window. A picture on the wall, changed

The hearthstone; or, Life at home