dow on a«crack for some time, or you can opeu it wide for a few minutes, as seems best ; if the weather is mild, it is best to keep one window constantly open. You must change the bed-linen frequently, and this can be done, even with a very sick patient, if you can get some one to help you by raising the invalid for a moment while you pull out the soiled sheet and put on a clean one, rolling it up and slipping it quickly under the slightly-raised body of the patient, who can lie upon one side of the bed, while you make the other. No slops of any kind should be permitted to remain in the room for a moment, and it is well to use some disinfectant? such as carbolic acid and chloride of lime, remembering, however, that cleanliness is the only really effectual disin- fectant. The patient should be kept quiet, and in acute cases should never be allowed to see strangers or to oecome excited by talking, etc., while the nurse herself should wear a dress of some soft material which will not rustle, and should speak always in a low tone and gentle voice, humor- ing, but at the same time controlling the patient. The room should be darkened, or at least the patient's eyes should be shaded from the light, and neatness and order should be the universal rule. Feather beds should never be used in illness, mattresses being on all accounts better, and the bed covering should be light, as a weight of clothing is very oppressive to an invalid. Obedience to the doctor's ON HABITS AND MANNERS 1 5 J orders and constant watchfulness of symptoms are essential, and at all times it must be remembered that sick people are like children, and require to be treated with great gentle- ness, but also with firmness. The work of a nurse is, for many reasons, very difficult and trying ; but the reward is great, and any woman who learns to be a good nurse will find infinite pleasure in the consciousness of her ability to alleviate and prevent suffer- ing, and her increased power to do good to others. CHAPTER XXII. ACCIDENTS. In any emergency whatever, in the nature of an acci dent to yourself or others, or of a general and sudden alarm, you are useful, first, as you are able to control yourself; and second, as you can do what is necessary until efficient help can be obtained. You may, some of you, have heard the joke, which though old is not worn out, to the effect that in a railway accident, there is but one thing better than u pies- ence of mind," and that is " absence of body." It, after all r only illustrates the fact that presence of mind, that is, self- control, is an essential at all moments of danger to yourself or others, and nothing will help you more in this than to be sure that you know what ought to be done. The follow- ing simple directions will, I trust, be of assistance to you> 158 ON HABITS AND MANNERS. and if at any time you can obtain special instruction, it will be well worth your while to do so, for the sake of those among whom your future work may lie :

AI-modernized reading of the original text

dow on a crack for some time, or you can opeu it wide for a few minutes, as seems best ; if the weather is mild, it is best to keep one window constantly open. You must change the bed-linen frequently, and this can be done, even with a very sick patient, if you can get some one to help you by raising the invalid for a moment while you pull out the soiled sheet and put on a clean one, rolling it up and slipping it quickly under the slightly-raised body of the patient, who can lie upon one side of the bed, while you make the other. No slops of any kind should be permitted to remain in the room for a moment, and it is well to use some disinfectant, such as carbolic acid and chloride of lime, remembering, however, that cleanliness is the only really effectual disinfectant. The patient should be kept quiet, and in acute cases should never be allowed to see strangers or to become excited by talking, etc., while the nurse herself should wear a dress of some soft material which will not rustle, and should speak always in a low tone and gentle voice, humoring, but at the same time controlling the patient. The room should be darkened, or at least the patient's eyes should be shaded from the light, and neatness and order should be the universal rule. Feather beds should never be used in illness, mattresses being on all accounts better, and the bed covering should be light, as a weight of clothing is very oppressive to an invalid. Obedience to the doctor's orders and constant watchfulness of symptoms are essential, and at all times it must be remembered that sick people are like children, and require to be treated with great gentleness, but also with firmness. The work of a nurse is, for many reasons, very difficult and trying ; but the reward is great, and any woman who learns to be a good nurse will find infinite pleasure in the consciousness of her ability to alleviate and prevent suffering, and her increased power to do good to others. CHAPTER XXII. ACCIDENTS. In any emergency whatever, in the nature of an accident to yourself or others, or of a general and sudden alarm, you are useful, first, as you are able to control yourself; and second, as you can do what is necessary until efficient help can be obtained. You may, some of you, have heard the joke, which though old is not worn out, to the effect that in a railway accident, there is but one thing better than "presence of mind," and that is " absence of body." It, after all, only illustrates the fact that presence of mind, that is, selfcontrol, is an essential at all moments of danger to yourself or others, and nothing will help you more in this than to be sure that you know what ought to be done. The following simple directions will, I trust, be of assistance to you. and if at any time you can obtain special instruction, it will be well worth your while to do so, for the sake of those among whom your future work may lie :

On habits and manners