648 HOME AND HOUSEHOLD. 



cultivate self-possession, calmness, quiet cheerfulness, patience, 

 a tender hand, a gentle voice, that " excellent thing in a 

 woman," at all times. She should have the faculty of being 

 " handy"; that is, always doing the right thing at the right 

 time ; never being guilty of such awkwardness as dropping or 

 knocking over things. Even patients who, when in health, are 

 careless and noisy, when ill, are very sensitive to the disturbance 

 of disorder, while quietness and neatness have a soothing effect 

 upon them. 



In order to secure neatness, order, and quiet, in case of long 

 illness, the following arrangements should be made : Keep a 

 large box for fuel, which will need to be filled only twice in 

 twenty-four hours. Provide also and keep in the room, or an 

 adjacent closet, a small tea-kettle, a saucepan, a pail of water for 

 drinks and ablutions, a pitcher, a covered porringer, two pint 

 bowls, two tumblers, two cups and saucers, two wine-glasses, 

 two large and two small spoons ; also a dish in which to wash 

 these articles ; a good supply of towels and a broom. Keep a 

 slop-bucket near by to receive the wash of the room. Procuring 

 all these articles at once will save much noise and confusion. 



Nothing contributes more to the restoration of health than 

 pure air ; therefore it should be a primary object to keep a sick- 

 room well ventilated. At least twice in the twenty-four hours, 

 the patient should be well covered, and fresh air freely admitted 

 from out-of-doors. After this, if need be, the room should be 

 restored to a proper temperature by the aid of an open fire. 

 Bedding and clothing should also be well aired and frequently 

 changed, as the exhalations from the body, in sickness, are pe- 

 culiarly deleterious. Frequent ablutions of the whole body, if 

 possible, are very useful ; and for these, warm water may be em- 

 ployed when cold water is disagreeable. 



Whenever medicine or food is given, spread a clean towel over 

 the person or bed-clothing, and get a clean handkerchief, as 

 nothing is more annoying to a weak stomach than the stickiness 

 and soiling produced by medicine and food. 



Keep the fire-place neat, and always wash all articles and put 

 them in order as soon as they' are out of use. A sick person 

 has nothing to do but look about the room ; and when every- 

 thing is neat and in order, a feeling of comfort is induced, while 



