344 APPENDIX 



A draught of air is to be avoided ; it will seldom occur that the air of 

 the room requires to be so speedily changed that the patient need be 

 exposed to a draught ; never, when care has been taken to provide con- 

 tinuous and gradual ventilation. 



It should be borne in mind that cold air is not necessarily pure air, 

 and that ventilation is not less needed in winter than in warm weather. 



Sleep is a great necessity to the sick. If a well person slumbers in the 

 day-time, it will interfere with his sound repose at night, but with the 

 sick this is generally not the case. The more they sleep the more favor- 

 able are the chances for their recovery : so that it will be readily seen 

 how important it is to avoid noise and jar in the sick-room, especially if 

 the disease is acute. 



Bear in mind that even slight noises, as the rustling of garments, the 

 creaking of doors, whispering, or noisy footfalls, may be sufficient to dis- 

 turb a brain that is rendered sensitive by pain or wakefulness. 



The clothing next the skin should be changed more frequently in sick- 

 ness than in health. These changes must be quickly and deftly made, 

 and with as little disturbance as possible. 



Under some conditions of disease, the best welfare of the patient is 

 accomplished by having two beds in the room instead of one. 



The temperature of the room must be watched. To that end a ther- 

 mometer should always be present, and easily approached. It is better 

 not to have it directly in the view of the patient. The temperature 

 should not be allowed to vary much from 65 F. , unless the doctor other- 

 wise directs. 



Let the furniture be as plain and as free from upholstery as possible ; 

 not many pieces are required. Movable carpets or rugs are better than 

 those that are permanently laid. Curtains about the windows are out of 

 place in a sick-room : so are flowering plants and birds, as a general rule. 

 Florence Nightingale, however, makes an exception in the case of chronic 

 invalids, and consents to the comforting influence of a pet bird or two. 



In regard to the admission of visitors, and conversation, much will 

 depend upon the strength of the patient and the kind of sickness: at 

 many times these are to be forbidden, as having a disquieting influence. 

 When contagious disease is in the house, the sick-room must be avoided 

 by all except those who have the care of the patient, and those having 

 this care should avoid coming in contact with the other members of the 

 household, especially the children. 



Bear in -mind that everything brought in contact with the sick is liable 

 to endanger the health of the well. 



No articles in use by the invalid should be removed or used by others 

 until thoroughly disinfected ; the dishes and spoons should be put in boil- 

 ing water before being taken from the room. The room itself should be 

 fumigated with sulphur when the person is removed from it. 



