now and then, a glass of fresh flowers, or a growing plant, afford a pleasure beyond anything known in health. A bare wall in fever cases seems often to make all sorts of faces, but flowers never do. It is an old-fashioned notion that they are unhealthy, and the nurse who will leave her patient stewing and stifling in an over-heated and foul atmosphere will order a fresh rose out of the room on the in- stant. " They give off carbonic acid." On the contrary, in such a room they absorb it, and die a speedy death because they have. The beautiful custom, dating back only a few years, of the " flower mis- sions " in large cities is beneficent in more senses than one, and act- ually acts as a healing force. Remember, also, that a gloomy and troubled face is a weight you have no right to lay on any one, sick or well. A laugh will often alter the course of an illness for the better, and if there is incurable disease gloominess will only add to the inevitable sorrow. Aim to give as much variety as possible. Tell every pleasant thing you hear, and keep the sufferers' thoughts as much off of themselves as possible. In a long chronic case, a pet bird or other animal will often be the greatest comfort, and babies and sick people are ex- cellent society for one another. " If you think the 'air of the sick- room ' bad for the baby, why it is bad for the invalid too, and, there- fore, you will of course correct it for both. It freshens up a sick person's whole mental atmosphere to see ' the baby.' And a very young child, if unspoiled, will generally adapt itself wonderfully to the ways of the sick person, if the time they spend together is not too long." Reading aloud is a great resource, but in fevers will often excite and irritate, and no fixed rules for occupation can be given, com- mon sense being the only guide here as elsewhere, it being only necessary to remember that some occupation is a means of cure for all but the dangerously ill. We come now to Food, a question next in importance to that of air, which is simply a form of food demanded by the lungs. More and more as time has shown the errors of the past, physicians have 164 THE hearthstone; ok, life at home. come to rely on suitable food as their strongest and most efficient ally. A change in food will often cure a long established trouble, and certain diseases are now treated by the food-cure — diabetes, for instance, having its own peculiar regimen. Where this question is understood, drugs may be dispensed with ; and as constant investiga- tion'and experiment are going on, we are able now to plan the diet best suited to the disease. Among the many authorities on diet- etics none are better than " Pavy on Food and Dietetics," and Chambers' " Manual of Diet." Both are English physicians of highest scientific reputation, and accepted there and here as unquestioned authorities. Dr. Edward Smith's book on foods is also useful, and there are many smaller treatises ; but if one studies at all it should always be the best, and if the physician is intelligent be will always be glad to explain any dubious points.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

now and then, a glass of fresh flowers, or a growing plant, afford a pleasure beyond anything known in health. A bare wall in fever cases seems often to make all sorts of faces, but flowers never do. It is an old-fashioned notion that they are unhealthy, and the nurse who will leave her patient stewing and stifling in an over-heated and foul atmosphere will order a fresh rose out of the room on the instant. " They give off carbonic acid." On the contrary, in such a room they absorb it, and die a speedy death because they have. The beautiful custom, dating back only a few years, of the " flower missions " in large cities is beneficent in more senses than one, and actually acts as a healing force. Remember, also, that a gloomy and troubled face is a weight you have no right to lay on any one, sick or well. A laugh will often alter the course of an illness for the better, and if there is incurable disease gloominess will only add to the inevitable sorrow. Aim to give as much variety as possible. Tell every pleasant thing you hear, and keep the sufferers' thoughts as much off of themselves as possible. In a long chronic case, a pet bird or other animal will often be the greatest comfort, and babies and sick people are excellent society for one another. " If you think the 'air of the sickroom ' bad for the baby, why it is bad for the invalid too, and, therefore, you will of course correct it for both. It freshens up a sick person's whole mental atmosphere to see ' the baby.' And a very young child, if unspoiled, will generally adapt itself wonderfully to the ways of the sick person, if the time they spend together is not too long." Reading aloud is a great resource, but in fevers will often excite and irritate, and no fixed rules for occupation can be given, common sense being the only guide here as elsewhere, it being only necessary to remember that some occupation is a means of cure for all but the dangerously ill. We come now to Food, a question next in importance to that of air, which is simply a form of food demanded by the lungs. More and more as time has shown the errors of the past, physicians have 164 THE HEARTHSTONE; OR, LIFE AT HOME. come to rely on suitable food as their strongest and most efficient ally. A change in food will often cure a long established trouble, and certain diseases are now treated by the food-cure — diabetes, for instance, having its own peculiar regimen. Where this question is understood, drugs may be dispensed with ; and as constant investigation'and experiment are going on, we are able now to plan the diet best suited to the disease. Among the many authorities on dietetics none are better than " Pavy on Food and Dietetics," and Chambers' " Manual of Diet." Both are English physicians of highest scientific reputation, and accepted there and here as unquestioned authorities. Dr. Edward Smith's book on foods is also useful, and there are many smaller treatises ; but if one studies at all it should always be the best, and if the physician is intelligent be will always be glad to explain any dubious points.

The hearthstone; or, Life at home