The Preservation of Health 30 1 



and plainly. If a physician is employed, carry out his 

 orders to the very letter as long as he visits you. Make 

 on a slip of paper a note of his directions. Make a brief 

 record of exactly what to do, the precise time of giving 

 medicines, etc. This should always be done in serious 

 cases, and by night watchers ; then there is no guess- 

 work. You have the record before you for easy reference. 

 All such things are valuable helps to the doctor. 



Noises that are liable to disturb the patient, in other 

 parts of the house than the sick room, should be avoided. 

 Sounds of a startling character, especially those not easily 

 explained, as the rattling or slamming of distant blinds 

 and doors, are always irritating to the sick. 



469. Hints on nursing Infectious and Contagious Diseases. 

 Strip the room of superfluous rugs, carpets, furniture, 

 etc. Isolate two rooms, if possible, and have these, if 

 convenient, at the top of the house. Tack sheets, wet 

 in some proper disinfectant, to the outer frame of the 

 sick-room door. Boil these sheets every third day. In 

 case of diseases to which the young are very susceptible, 

 send the children who have not yet been attacked, if 

 possible, to houses where there are no children. 



The most scrupulous care should be taken in regard to 

 cleanliness. Old pieces of linen, cheese cloth, and paper 

 napkins should be used wherever convenient or necessary 

 and then at once burned. All soiled clothing that cannot 

 well be burned should be put to soak at once in disinfect- 

 ants and afterward boiled apart from the family wash. 

 Dishes and all utensils should be kept scrupulously clean 

 by frequent boiling. For the bed and person old and worn 

 articles of clothing that can be destroyed should be used 

 so far as possible. 



