344 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Apr. I 



terribly unstrung'. However, she very soon 

 learned to expect about so often an assur- 

 ing touch from me, even if I did not speak, 

 or when she was scarcely able -to speak. 

 I know it helped her to be reminded that I 

 did not forget her even for one moment. 



For almost two weeks she ate nothing, or 

 almost nothing. Finally, when a little ap- 

 petite began to come, every thing distressed 

 her so we were all puzzled to find something 

 that would give nourishment without giving- 

 great distress. Her dit^estive apparatus 

 was left in a fearful state. The morphine 

 injections, which I suppose had to be given 

 to quiet the nervous spells that threatened 

 her life, very likelj helped to get the diges- 

 tive apparatus out of tune. The doctors all 

 agreed that morphine is very destructive to 

 digestion. I discussed this matter of opi- 

 ates with different physicians of promi- 

 nence; and, so far as I could learn, they are 

 almost a necessity in some stages of dis- 

 ease. In fact, there were times when I 

 think Mrs. Root might not have rallied with- 

 out the assistance of the quieting- influence 

 of a little morphine. She and I both feared 

 that she might get her system in such condi- 

 tion she could not get along without it. The 

 doctors and nurses agreed, however, that 

 there was no possible danger with the sfm.ll 

 dose (3s grain) we gave once (and very 

 rarely twice) in 24 hours. When we dis- 

 continued its use entirely she missed its ef- 

 fect only a little during one night. After 

 that, there was no trouble. I think there 

 is little or no danger unless it is used im- 

 moderately by inexperienced people. 



The question of brandy also came up, 

 Mrs. Root and I both object to it, even in 

 the sick-room. We have objected to it all 

 our lives, and do yet; but the physicians 

 and nurses were so sure it would be unsafe 

 to dispense with it, we yielded to them. 

 She took quite a little brandy — of course, in 

 small doses. We both watched its effect; 

 and it is her firm conviction now that she 

 would have got along quite as well without 

 it, and I entirely agree with her. I know 

 it is a somewhat serious matter to disagree 

 with experienced doctors and trained 

 nurses, and we accordingly submitted to 

 them; but after getting all the light on the 

 subject we possibly could, and after weigh- 

 ing the matter not only carefully but 

 prayerfully, we are both satisfied in our 

 own micds that there is no need of brandy 

 in the sick room. I am glad to know there 

 are physicians, and prominent ones too, 

 who stand tight with us in this. One of 

 the physicians on the Ohio State Board of 

 Health declares there is no need of intoxi- 

 cating liquors in treating the sick. When 

 one of the nurses ordered a bottle of whisky, 

 without my knowledge, I sent it back to the 

 drugstore. It may be that brandy is some- 

 times needed, but when it comes to pre- 

 scribing whisky I draw the line. When I 

 spoke of sending it back somebody said, 

 " It would be handy to have in the house." 

 Now, it is 7iot handy to have whisky in our 

 house, and, thank God, it never will be 



while Mrs. Root and I live to manage things 

 — and, for that matter, brandy either. The 

 brandy that was left has been made into 

 camphor. 



TRAINED NURSES. 



It was a great privilege to me to get ac- 

 quainted with two up-to-date trained 

 nurses. One of them was educated in 

 Cleveland, if I am co -rect, and the other 

 recently graduated in B:)ston, Mass. In 

 the first place, their teachings were in per- 

 fect harmony with each other; and one 

 prominent characteristic of both was their 

 demand for plenty of ventilation and out- 

 door air. Even during the zero weather 

 there was a window or two open a little 

 almost constantly; and it rejoiced my heart 

 to see how up to date they were in all sani- 

 tary improvements. Few doctors, so far as 

 my experience goes, watch every symptom 

 as did these nurses. Any change in pulse, 

 temperature, or breathing, was noted en a 

 paper chart. They knew all about the ac- 

 tion of the bowels, the operation of the kid- 

 neys, and every phase of the disease was 

 carefully stud ied. A trained nurse must be 

 strong and well. Indeed, she would not be 

 a very good advertisement for her business 

 if she were not strong and well. They 

 must be ready to take charge of any patient, 

 no matter if he has smallpox, cholera, yel- 

 low fever, or any thing else. They mu it be 

 strong physically to handle a patient, and 

 they must be sufficiently gentle and skill- 

 ful to handle him without givinsr him pain. 

 I thought I could handle Mrs. Root without 

 hurting her; but I soon had to admit th it I 

 hadn't the skill (even if I had the strength) 

 of a trained nurse. These nurses kn^w all 

 about doing every thing that can be done vo 

 make the patient feel easy and give him 

 sleep. They know all about hot-water 

 bottles, poultices, plasters, how to put them 

 on and take them off.* 



After Mrs. Root had been several weeks 

 in bed she became very sore, especially at 

 the time when she was on her back all the 

 time and could not be turned, even on her 

 s'de. The nurse advised a rubber bag in- 

 fiattd with air, with an opening in the cen- 

 ter. This opening is to be put under the 

 portion of the body that has become sore 

 from touching the bed; and then the bag is 

 inflated just enough to be comfortable. I 

 thought they carried the matter of daily 

 bathing a little to excess, but perhaps they 



* It was a happy surprise to me to find out that 

 th-^se tramed nurses were perfectly sound on Electro- 

 poise, Christian pcitnce. absent hfaling, and every 

 thing of that .'ort. Of course, they h;iJ b^th seen 

 many startling cases of patients that were miraculous- 

 ly cured, apparently, by all of the.se agencies; and 

 they are well aware, too, of the wonderful effect that 

 the mental state of the patient ma^ have over even 

 acute troubles ; and I fear right hear I have omitted to 

 say that the nurse must necessarily be bright and 

 cheerful. No matter what worries and troubles her, 

 she mu.st be ready to cheer, brighten, and encourage, 

 and. if it is possible, get the patient to laughing. One 

 day I was almost frij;htened to hear Mrs Root's ring- 

 ing laughter once more. I was afraid it miaht be hys 

 teri s : but it was only a laughable story from one of 

 the nurses Perhaps I should say we had two nurses 

 at once, for only a short time. 



