thing. Never taste the food in the patient's presence. Arrange what
you design for food without consulting your patient. Nine times out
of ten if you ask, " What do you want to eat ?" the reply will be,
" Nothing," or, " I don't care." Prop him up in bed by means of pil-
lows ; put a shawl about his shoulders and a napkin under his chin.
When the patient is helpless give small mouthfuls and don't hurry him.
Vary the diet as much as is allowable. There are many cases where
the system is actually starving, which could be reached by a little inge-
nuity displayed in giving the kind of food required in just the right
way.
Notice particularly the amount of food taken so that you may report
to the attending physician. To the attending physician you should at
each visit give a detailed history of the case since his last visit. (Details
to be noted on paper during each day.) Mention all striking occur-
rences— if for any reason the medicines have not been given exactly as
ordered ; or, if taken, if rejected from the stomach ; note the color,
quantity, and consistence of all the bodily discharges. Note whether
the patient sleeps much or little; if the sleep is quiet or restless; if
there is any delirium or moaning, etc.
It is better to present the history of the case to the physician at each
visit in the form of a diary, in which your entries are made from time
to time during the day.
It is imperative that the sick room should be well ventilated. Great
care should be taken to keep everything in neatness and order; by
omitting to do so the patient is worried, becomes fretful, and great
harm is done.
Always keep the feet warm and the head cool as possible. Never
allow a sick person to ask the second time for anything ; attend to
their wants immediately ; if you do think they are whimsical, it is a
privilege they have, and, in fact, about the only one they do enjoy.
It is very hurtful to let a sick person drink much cold water at one
time, even if they are not very sick ; some warm drink or cold corn, or
crust coffee (toasting the corn and crusts), can be drunk with good
results. If they must have cold water, take them just what you are will-
ing they should drink, be it ever so little, and no more, and say to them
to drink hearty, and smile (if the quantity is very small), and, if they are
able, it will provoke a smile in return.
If the patient has a burning fever, take an earthen wash-bowl, fill
two-thirds full of tepid water, in which put one tablespoonful of com-
mon baking soda ; then bathe the face, body and limbs freely with it
and wipe dry. This treatment for fever is followed by our best physi-
cians.
Never venture into the sick room if you are in a violent perspiration
(if circumstances require your continuance there for any time), for the
17
258 MEDICAL.
Page 228
Presented as published in 1886. 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
thing. Never taste the food in the patient's presence. Arrange what you design for food without consulting your patient. Nine times out of ten if you ask, " What do you want to eat ?" the reply will be, " Nothing," or, " I don't care." Prop him up in bed by means of pillows ; put a shawl about his shoulders and a napkin under his chin. When the patient is helpless give small mouthfuls and don't hurry him. Vary the diet as much as is allowable. There are many cases where the system is actually starving, which could be reached by a little ingenuity displayed in giving the kind of food required in just the right way.
Notice particularly the amount of food taken so that you may report to the attending physician. To the attending physician you should at each visit give a detailed history of the case since his last visit. (Details to be noted on paper during each day.) Mention all striking occurrences— if for any reason the medicines have not been given exactly as ordered ; or, if taken, if rejected from the stomach ; note the color, quantity, and consistence of all the bodily discharges. Note whether the patient sleeps much or little; if the sleep is quiet or restless; if there is any delirium or moaning, etc.
It is better to present the history of the case to the physician at each visit in the form of a diary, in which your entries are made from time to time during the day.
It is imperative that the sick room should be well ventilated. Great care should be taken to keep everything in neatness and order; by omitting to do so the patient is worried, becomes fretful, and great harm is done.
Always keep the feet warm and the head cool as possible. Never allow a sick person to ask the second time for anything ; attend to their wants immediately ; if you do think they are whimsical, it is a privilege they have, and, in fact, about the only one they do enjoy.
It is very hurtful to let a sick person drink much cold water at one time, even if they are not very sick ; some warm drink or cold corn, or crust coffee (toasting the corn and crusts), can be drunk with good results. If they must have cold water, take them just what you are willing they should drink, be it ever so little, and no more, and say to them to drink hearty, and smile (if the quantity is very small), and, if they are able, it will provoke a smile in return.
If the patient has a burning fever, take an earthen wash-bowl, fill two-thirds full of tepid water, in which put one tablespoonful of common baking soda ; then bathe the face, body and limbs freely with it and wipe dry. This treatment for fever is followed by our best physicians.
Never venture into the sick room if you are in a violent perspiration (if circumstances require your continuance there for any time), for the