Mental nursing / by William Harding.

  • Harding, W. (William Harry), 1941-
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Mental nursing / by William Harding. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    restless melancholic with suicidal tendencies, three at least would be required ; if the patient be very feeble two might be enough. The provision for night duty, meal times, and for the daily open- air exercise of the nurses must be borne in mind. It will probably be found cheaper in the long run, and certainly better for the patient, to provide sufficient help from the outset of the illness. It is so difficult in insanity to foretell what an hour may bring forth, and how the subsequent history of the case may be influenced by its manage- ment at an important crisis. The sleeping acco- modation for the day nurses should not be far from the patients' rooms, so that they may be quickly summoned to assist the night nurse if required. Selection of Rooms for the Patient.—This must of course be decided to a great extent by the nature of the case, and the accommodation available. For a quiet or chronic case without any special features there need be no great change made in the ordinary bedroom and sitting-room. In mild cases of melancholia, it is well to make the precautions taken as little noticeable as possible, and to remember that the best safe- guard of all is unceasing vigilance and unremitting supervision. In feeble, or in very acutely excited, or in markedly suicidal cases, the situation and furnishing of the rooms become a matter of much more importance. Those on the first or second