1. Fresh Air. — Secure a full and free change of air with-
out chilling the patient. According to the state of the weather,
have the door, or window, or both open. In the summer time
the upper part of the window of a sick-room should always be
opened; in cold weather, a fire burning acts as suction-pump
to draw off the vitiated air of the room, at the same time that
it diffuses sufficient warmth. To secure purity of air, as well
as the quiet so necessary for a sick-room, no more persons than
are required should be in the room. A crowd of people leads
to gossiping, and often exciting talk.
2. The temperature of a sick-room should, if possible, be
maintained as near to 60 ® as possible. In the winter season,
unless great care is taken, it will easily fall below this. At
other times of the year it is more readily overheated.
In some affections of the respiratory organs there is a great
advantage in cold weather in keeping the air of the room warm
and moist by the steam from the spout of a kettle. If a piece
of tin or lead pipe be attached to the spout, the steam can be
brought further into the room. This plan has the additional
advantage of securing a tolerably even temperature in the
room — an important point in the treatment of croup and other
inflammatory affections of the chest
3. Light.— The light should be so adjusted as to be
moderate^ according to the sensibility of the patient Some
^8^ MEDICINAL.
persons when ill like a dark room. This is more particularly
the case when the head is at all affected. In delirium, a dark-
ened chamber has often a very soothing effect. The bed
should not be so placed that the strong lights fall upon the
face of the patient. During convalescence, the bright and
cheerful light of the sun exerts a beneficial restorative
influence.
4. Cleanliness. — A well-known proverb expresses the
importance of cleanliness; and, if the proverb apply anywhere, it
applies still more forcibly in the sick-room. A common error
is that in eruptive fevers the clothes should not be changed for
fear of exposure of the surface of the body to a chill. Nothing
can be more mistaken; the body linen should not only be
changed daily, but the bed-linen should also be changed with
advantage at least every two or three days, and removed from
the room as quickly as possible. The body should also be
washed daily. Children suffering from a scarlet fever, measles,
or typhoid, derive comfort and benefit from their bodies being
sponged all over daily with warm vinegar and water.
Lotions. — These may be applied simply by frequently
washing the surface with them. In scarlet fever the sponging
with warm vinegar and water allays the irritation and heat of
the surface, and promotes the healthy functions of the skin. A
more efficient method for an evaporating lotion is to soak one
or two layers of soft linen or lint, wet with the lotion, and lay-
ing them on the surface, wet them again when they become dry.
The drying takes place through the heat of the surface, the
more rapidly, the higher the temperature of the part. An
evaporating lotion is readily made by a wineglassfal of gin or
whisky in a pint of cold water✪ Evaporating Lotion.
Page 197 · 1 recipe record on this page
Presented as published in 1883. 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
1. Fresh Air. — Secure a full and free change of air without chilling the patient. According to the state of the weather, have the door, or window, or both open. In the summer time the upper part of the window of a sick-room should always be opened; in cold weather, a fire burning acts as suction-pump to draw off the vitiated air of the room, at the same time that it diffuses sufficient warmth. To secure purity of air, as well as the quiet so necessary for a sick-room, no more persons than are required should be in the room. A crowd of people leads to gossiping, and often exciting talk.
2. The temperature of a sick-room should, if possible, be maintained as near to 60 ® as possible. In the winter season, unless great care is taken, it will easily fall below this. At other times of the year it is more readily overheated.
In some affections of the respiratory organs there is a great advantage in cold weather in keeping the air of the room warm and moist by the steam from the spout of a kettle. If a piece of tin or lead pipe be attached to the spout, the steam can be brought further into the room. This plan has the additional advantage of securing a tolerably even temperature in the room — an important point in the treatment of croup and other inflammatory affections of the chest
3. Light.— The light should be so adjusted as to be moderate, according to the sensibility of the patient. Some
persons when ill like a dark room. This is more particularly the case when the head is at all affected. In delirium, a darkened chamber has often a very soothing effect. The bed should not be so placed that the strong lights fall upon the face of the patient. During convalescence, the bright and cheerful light of the sun exerts a beneficial restorative influence.
4. Cleanliness. — A well-known proverb expresses the importance of cleanliness; and, if the proverb apply anywhere, it applies still more forcibly in the sick-room. A common error is that in eruptive fevers the clothes should not be changed for fear of exposure of the surface of the body to a chill. Nothing can be more mistaken; the body linen should not only be changed daily, but the bed-linen should also be changed with advantage at least every two or three days, and removed from the room as quickly as possible. The body should also be washed daily. Children suffering from a scarlet fever, measles, or typhoid, derive comfort and benefit from their bodies being sponged all over daily with warm vinegar and water.
Lotions. — These may be applied simply by frequently washing the surface with them. In scarlet fever the sponging with warm vinegar and water allays the irritation and heat of the surface, and promotes the healthy functions of the skin. A more efficient method for an evaporating lotion is to soak one or two layers of soft linen or lint, wet with the lotion, and laying them on the surface, wet them again when they become dry. The drying takes place through the heat of the surface, the more rapidly, the higher the temperature of the part. An evaporating lotion is readily made by a wineglassfal of gin or whisky in a pint of cold water.
Records on this page
Evaporating Lotion