Home nursing / by E. Margery Homersham.

  • Homersham, E. Margery.
Date:
[1893]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Home nursing / by E. Margery Homersham. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ment to the doctor. She must, however, tell him everything of importance, such as any omissions or variations from the prescribed treatment, and the cir¬ cumstances which necessitated a departure from in¬ structions, and also of any tendency to diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, palpitation of the heart, cold perspirations, fever, despondency or delirium. The Sick-room should be large and airy, with a south or south-west aspect, a fireplace that does not smoke, and windows that open at the top. In preparing an in¬ valid’s room the walls and ceiling must be as carefully dusted as the floor and furniture. No unnecessary furniture should remain in the room, but curtains and carpets need not be removed unless the case is infec¬ tious. The hinges and locks of the door should be well oiled, and the window cords soaped that they may work noiselessly. Fireirons and register should be removed, an old walking-stick be substituted for the poker, and all coals be packed in small paper bags, each containing about two pounds weight, so that the fire may be quietly renewed. A fire helps to make the room cheerful, and assists ventilation. It should always be lighted if the temperature falls below 58° Fahr. When a fire is not needed a lamp kept burning in the stove will assist ventilation by drawing the vitiated atmosphere into the chimney. Really fresh air can only be admitted by the window, which except in foggy weather should be kept open two or three inches at the top, both by night and by day. Popular opinion on the subject of night air has been considerably modified since the date of Miss Nightin¬ gale’s pertinent query: What air can we breathe at night except night air ? Of course there are times during the night, as in the day, when the outside atmosphere is so keen, damp or foggy that its ingress