moment your body becomes cold it is in a state likely to absorb the
infection and give you the disease ; nor visit a sick person, especially if
the complaint be of a contagious nature, with an empty stomach, as
this disposes the system more readily to receive the contagion. In
attending a sick person place yourself where the air passes from the
door or window to the bed of the diseased, not between the sick person
and any fire that is in the room, as the heat of the fire will draw the
infectious vapor in that direction, and you run the risk of danger from
breathing it in. All clothing and clothes used should be thoroughly
aired. A pretty bouquet or a nice plant in the sick room will often
give great pleasure.
It is also essential to know how to hold a sick person with ease.
Never grasp him or support any part of the body with the tips of your
fingers, but with the whole breadth of your hand laid smoothly on the
skin. If you use the finger ends for holding any weight, they will press
and dig into the patient's flesh, causing him great discomfort, particu-
larly if the part be at all inflamed; but if your whole hand, with fingers
a little spread out, divide the weight over its surface, no discomfort or
as little as possible is produced.
Obey implicitly the directions of the attending physician ; when med-
icines are ordered to be given, mark on a sheet of paper the hours at
which each dose is to be given and check each dose taken. Never guess
at the dose ordered. See that all medicines are labeled and look at the
label each time if more than one kind is to be given. Ask your physi-
cian how much nourishment he wishes the patient to have and give it
at stated times, with as much regularity as the medicine.
The medicine to be given and the cups, spoons and glasses, for the
use of the patient should be kept out of his sight, either in a closet or
on a table in an adjoining room. Spoons that have been used should
be placed in water each time after using. A small dish of water on the
stand will serve for this purpose.
There is one thing which will often require considerable tact to
accomplish — the defense of your patient against the well-meaning but
oftentimes injudicious interference of friends. If a caller commences a
conversation which will tend to disturb or fatigue your patient, speak
kindly but firmly to stop it. Remember your first duty is to your
patient. You can explain your reasons to the friend afterwards. Don't
let a caller kiss your patient. It is a bad habit in sickness and one
fraught with danger at times, and is almost always annoying to the
patient.
STATE OF THE PULSE AND LUNGS.
Every intelligent person should know how to ascertain the state of
the pulse in health ; then, by comparing it with what it is when he is
ailing, he may have some idea of the urgency of his case. Parents
VALUABLE ADVICE TO MOTHERS. 259
Page 229
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
moment your body becomes cold it is in a state likely to absorb the infection and give you the disease ; nor visit a sick person, especially if the complaint be of a contagious nature, with an empty stomach, as this disposes the system more readily to receive the contagion. In attending a sick person place yourself where the air passes from the door or window to the bed of the diseased, not between the sick person and any fire that is in the room, as the heat of the fire will draw the infectious vapor in that direction, and you run the risk of danger from breathing it in. All clothing and clothes used should be thoroughly aired. A pretty bouquet or a nice plant in the sick room will often give great pleasure.
It is also essential to know how to hold a sick person with ease. Never grasp him or support any part of the body with the tips of your fingers, but with the whole breadth of your hand laid smoothly on the skin. If you use the finger ends for holding any weight, they will press and dig into the patient's flesh, causing him great discomfort, particularly if the part be at all inflamed; but if your whole hand, with fingers a little spread out, divide the weight over its surface, no discomfort or as little as possible is produced.
Obey implicitly the directions of the attending physician ; when medicines are ordered to be given, mark on a sheet of paper the hours at which each dose is to be given and check each dose taken. Never guess at the dose ordered. See that all medicines are labeled and look at the label each time if more than one kind is to be given. Ask your physician how much nourishment he wishes the patient to have and give it at stated times, with as much regularity as the medicine.
The medicine to be given and the cups, spoons and glasses, for the use of the patient should be kept out of his sight, either in a closet or on a table in an adjoining room. Spoons that have been used should be placed in water each time after using. A small dish of water on the stand will serve for this purpose.
There is one thing which will often require considerable tact to accomplish — the defense of your patient against the well-meaning but oftentimes injudicious interference of friends. If a caller commences a conversation which will tend to disturb or fatigue your patient, speak kindly but firmly to stop it. Remember your first duty is to your patient. You can explain your reasons to the friend afterwards. Don't let a caller kiss your patient. It is a bad habit in sickness and one fraught with danger at times, and is almost always annoying to the patient.
STATE OF THE PULSE AND LUNGS.
Every intelligent person should know how to ascertain the state of the pulse in health ; then, by comparing it with what it is when he is ailing, he may have some idea of the urgency of his case. Parents
VALUABLE ADVICE TO MOTHERS. 259