43 6 



OF BEDS. 



Thomas' Hospital, open air treatment might be tried 

 very easily in the terraces at the ends of the wards, 

 and -without adding to the work of those engaged in 

 nursing and supplying the diets. 



Beds. There is much to be said upon the subject 

 of beds in connection with the treatment of cases of 

 fever. If the bed is very hard the patient suffers 

 much, but on the other hand, it may be too soft. A 

 water bed is most unpleasant for patients, unless they 

 are really quite helpless. Upon the whole, I think a 

 good thick hair mattress, or two hair mattresses one 

 over the other is to be preferred. By the aid of an 

 eider down quilt, or the cheaper arctic goose down 

 coverlet, the surface, may be made quite even and 

 pleasant to the patient without being too yielding. 



The clothes covering the patient should be light 

 but warm. There is nothing better than good blankets. 

 For very delicate patients, eider down coverlets will 

 be found advantageous. 



In very severe cases extending over many weeks 

 there will be danger of bed sores in spite of all our 

 precautions. All prominent parts of the body should 

 be examined by the medical attendant himself every 

 second or third day. In most cases the position of 

 the patient can be varied from time to time, and, with 

 the aid of soft pillows, he may be kept for a time 

 lying on one or other side without any muscular 

 exertion upon his part. The patient's comfort is 

 often increased by sponging the body daily, only a 



