126 CHAPTER 15. 



245. Medicines acting on the Nervous System. 



Some medicines, we know, affect and depress the nervous system 

 generally, and in certain cases we can give them with advantage; but 

 we know scarcely any which will act specially in depressing the nerves 

 of a particular part or organ. 



Other medicines we know excite the nervous system, and in regard to 

 these our knowledge is a little more extended. We know that certain 

 agents excite the nerves of particular parts. Belladonna, for instance, 

 when applied locally, will affect the nerves of the eyes specially and 

 produce dilatation of the pupil. Strychnia acts powerfully on the nerves 

 of motion, and produces spasms of the voluntary muscles. Strychnia is 

 also a special excitant of reflex action. 



As regards external agents acting on the superficial sensitive nerves we 

 are not so much in the dark. We can easily excite or depress them in 

 any particular parts. Blisters, for instance, pressure, pain, &c., all excite 

 the superficial sensitive nervous system ; whilst opium, cold, ether, chloro- 

 form, &c., have a tendency to allay nervous irritation in the part to 

 which they are applied. 



CHAPTER 15. 



GOOD NURSING. 



246. Explanation of the term. 247. Loose boxes and quiet. 248. Draughts. 

 249. Cleanliness, dryness, and sweetness of stable. 250. Warmth of the body. 

 251. Clothing. 252. Warmbandages. 253. Coldbandages. 254. Sweating 

 bandage. 254a. Fomenting bandage. 255. Fomentations. 256. Cold 

 bathing of the legs. 257. Removal of the shoes. 258. Water. 259. Food. 

 260. Horses with free discharge from the nostrils. 261. Utensils to be kept 

 clean. 262. Hand-rubbing, &c. 263. Beds. 264. Change of box and air. 

 265. Apparatus for applying a stream of cold water. 266. Instruction of 

 servants in nursing. 



246. Explanation of the term. 



Of primary importance in the treatment of disease is "good nursing." 

 By good nursing we mean an intelligent appreciation of and kind prompt 

 attention to the minuter wants and needs, whatever they may be, of the 

 patient. These wants and needs will not only vary in each case, but they 

 will often vary from hour to hour even in the same case. 



Care and kindness, however, are not sufficient. All the care and kind- 

 ness in the world, if through ignorance misdirected or misapplied, will 

 not aid much in the restoration of health. It is impossible to lay down 

 any exact rules for good nursing, but we hope to be able to give some 



