HINTS FOR THE SICK-ROOM. i 77 



But there is one kind of nervousness which I do not think meets 

 with sufficient consideration, and that is the unconquerable fear which 

 you will find some people have of any disease that is infectious. 

 Now, I think this sort of fear is far more constitutional than mental, 

 and it appears to me most uncharitable to speak of those who are thus 

 nervous by temperament as " so frightened," etc. Depend upon it, if 

 any one has a great dread of infection, he is far better away from the 

 chance of it. If I heard a person express a great and overpowering 

 dread of small-pox, cholera, fever, or diphtheria, I should do all in my 

 power to prevent that person going near any case of the kind, because 

 I should be morally certain of the result. As a rule, I believe that 

 those who are perfectly fearless are comparatively safe ; and there is 

 no truer test of perfect freedom from nervous dread than the fact of 

 being able to sleep at once, quietly and naturally, and without the 

 mind being obliged to dwell upon the work of the day. The best 

 cholera-nurse I ever saw used to tell me that she often sat down in the 

 corner of a room, on the floor, and "slept right off" for half an hour 

 at a time, either day or night, just as such opportunity for rest pre- 

 sented itself. But of course there are exceptions to all rules ; and one 

 of the most devoted and the most fearless in attendance on the sick, 

 during a terrible epidemic, died just when the worst of the battle 

 seemed over. 



But to return to some of those " trifles," the knowledge of which 

 is so needful to those who would try to fulfill well the duties of an 

 amateur sick- nurse. 



When active personal care of a sick person is undertaken, the fin- 

 ger-nails should be kept very short. I have seen a long nail tear open 

 a blister, and expose a raw surface, causing great pain. For the same 

 reason, all removable rings should be taken off; and any ornaments 

 that hang loose and make a jingling noise are best dispensed with, 

 as they irritate and annoy a sensitive patient. 



It seems to me that this very unpretending paper will be hardly 

 complete without a few words as to the diet that is best for any one 

 acting as sick-nurse in a long and trying case. 



One great point is, to let no silly notions of sentiment prevent you 

 making a practice of taking substantial and regular meals ; and, when 

 you have to sit up all night, be sure and have food at hand, and never 

 go more than three hours without eating. Now, I am going to say 

 what I know many will highly disapprove of, and it is this : when 

 you are nursing a long and anxious case, and you want to be able to 

 " stay " to the end, avoid all stimulants. There is nothing you can do 

 such hard work upon, there is nothing that will support you in long- 

 continued watching and fatigue, like good, well-made coffee. Stimu- 

 lants only give a temporary excitement, that passes itself off as 

 strength. They injure that clearness of thought, that perfect quie- 

 tude and recollectedness which are so essential to the good sick-nurse ; 

 VOL. is. 12 



