Mental nursing; or, Lectures for asylum attendants.

  • Harding, W. (William Harry), 1941-
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Mental nursing; or, Lectures for asylum attendants. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    Window cords should be removed. They have been used for strangulation. Door-handles should be taken off on the inner side. As the invalid will require visiting at regular intervals, and if asleep should not be distui'bed, it must be seen to that the door-handles and locks work silently and easily and that the door does not creak. Gas brackets and pendants should be arranged so that suspension from them is impossible, and gas taps should be out of the patient's reach. Fireplace.—This, and more especially if the patient be epileptic or very feeble, should be protected by a large fire-guard. Unless the case be one in whom full confidence is placed she should never be left alone with a fire. Safety matches should be used and they should be sharply looked after. Chamber Utensils.—It is sometimes desirable that these should be made of india-rubber, or some similar material, and not of crockery. Clothin/j of the Patient.—In the most acute stage thick flannel-lined combinations are best and will keep the patient warm however restless she may be. We thus escape the painful struggles to keep her dressed or in bed. As soon as ever possible ordinary clothing should be used. It will probably be neces- sary for a while to sew the dress at the back in order to prevent the patient from stripping herself. When able to be taken out laced boots should be used and the laces tied securely. If the patient became ex- cited out of doors and got her boots off it would not be an easy matter for the nurse to replace them.