384 NURSING THE SICK. 



The sick room should be quiet. Silk dresses and creaky boots, 

 the crackling noise made by handling a newspaper, etc., often dis- 

 tress invalids ; the tones of the voice should be gentle and subdued, 

 but whispering is to be avoided ; all unnecessary conversation and 

 noise must be forbidden. 



The temperature of the room should be ascertained by a ther- 

 mometer, as the sensations of the nurse cannot be depended upon 

 as a sufficient guide; a thermometer, suspended beyond the influ- 

 ence of a current of air or the direct heat of the tire, will correctly 

 indicate the temperature of the room. The temperature may be 

 varied according to the nature of the disease from which the patient 

 suffers. In fevers, inflammation of the brain, etc., about 55 will 

 be the proper warmth ; in inflammation of the lungs and bronchitis, 

 a higher temperature is necessary 60 and upwards. In all in- 

 flammatory affections of the chest the air should be warm and also 

 moist, so as not to irritate the inflamed lining of the air-tubes. 

 Cold air and too many bed-clothes are sure to increase the mischief. 

 Under all circumstances it must be remembered that the tempera- 

 ture considered necessary is on no account to be maintained by ex- 

 cluding fresh air from the room, and making the patient breathe, 

 over and over again, the air which has already been made im- 

 pure. 



Patients suffering from infectious diseases should be isolated, 

 if possible, and occupy a room on an upper story, to prevent the 

 spread of the infection to others ; for infectious exhalations, being 

 lighter than air, ascend. Mothers, who frequently go in and out 

 of the room, might keep a loose cotton-gown ready to put on over 

 their other dress whenever they enter it before waiting on the 

 infected patient, and to be taken off again and left in the room when 

 leaving. 



In most cases of illness, especially at the commencement, cold 

 water, barley-water, gum -water, raspberry- vinegar and water, apple- 

 water, toast and water, lemonade and soda-water, all demulcent bev- 

 erages, are nearly all that are necessary. There is sometimes a 

 foolish objection raised to allowing cold water to be given to a 

 patient; but it is not only most refreshing to the sick person, but 

 also an agent of supreme importance, lowering excessive heat, 

 giving vigor to the relaxed capillaries and accelerating favorable 

 changes. The quantity of cold water given at a time should be small 

 one to two tablespooufuls and repeated as often as desired. 

 Sucking ice is useful and grateful. 



Food not to be Kept in the Sick-room Miss Night- 

 ingale's suggestion on this point is worth repetition here. It is 

 this; do not keep the food, drink or delicacies intended for the 

 patient, in the sick-room or within his sight. The air and tempera- 

 ture of the apartment are liable to hasten putrefactive decomposi- 

 tion, especially in hot weather, and the continuous sight of them 

 to cause disgust. Rather take up for him, at the fitting time, and 



