Farmers' Week in Agricultural College. 269 



all i)laees ><)ii see displayed, the goodness and kindues.s of humanity. 

 The self -forgetting kindness of the neighbors is almost past belief to one 

 accustomed to life among the selfish city dwellers. But right here is 

 a grave danger^ — a cat may be killed by kindness and she possesses the 

 fabled nine lives. Suffer me to give you a few don'ts for the farm-home 

 sick room. 



Don't allow the sick room to be the common sitting room — guard 

 this point especially if the patient be a child. Neither should the room 

 open into the dining room and kitchen. This is harmful for both sick 

 and the well. Quiet and fresh air are absolutely necessary for the sick 

 and neither can be obtained without some degree of isolation. If the 

 family sit in the room they take into their lungs the oxygen needed by 

 the patient and give out poisonous gases that add to his already toxic 

 condition. Simply the presence of several in the room causes a nervous 

 shock to the patient that does him harm. The look of loving anxiety 

 bent on the patient makes him restless. The odor of clothes worn about 

 the stables as well as the steam from cooking meats and vegetables may 

 cause nausea persistent enough to endanger the life of the patient. 



Don't let me beg of you, accept the offers of kind-hearted neigh- 

 bors to sit up in groups of two or three unless they be deaf mutes. They 

 v'ill talk — they don't mean to, I know, and most of it will be done in 

 that objectionable tone — a whisper, but to an ear keyed to hyper-sensi- 

 tiveness by illness a low-toned whisper may be distinctly audible across 

 the room and many a delirious patient has been rendered almost un- 

 manageable by whispered conversation. 



Don 't trust to your memory in giving medicine. Write down plainly 

 the hours at which all medicines are due and give them at exactly that 

 time and always draw a line through the number, showing in this way 

 that the medicine has been given. This will insure against bis getting 

 two doses either through your own forgetfulness or the kindly inter- 

 ference of friends. Do not ask him if he is ready to take his medicine 

 or remind him it is time for it but quietly and unobserved, if possible, 

 prepare the dose and give it at the exact hour. Above all, do not 

 express pity for him when taking a nauseous dose, or make too elaborate 

 preparations for him to throw it up. Here is where will power does a 

 great deal, and the patient takes and retains medicine he deemed im- 

 possible. 



Do not discuss the patient's condition a dozen times a day over 

 the telephone in a voice distinctly audible in the sick room. 



These are a few of the "dont's" — now listen, if you please, for a 

 few moments to the "do's." 



As soon as the doctor pronounces the indisposition a real case of 



