320 OUR BODIES AND HOW WE LIVE 



Be sure to avoid draughts of cold air. Have a thermome- 

 ter and keep the temperature as the doctor directs. 



440. Hints for the Care of the Sick Room. Do not allow 

 a lamp with its flame turned down to burn through the 

 night. A close room with such an odor for a whole night 

 is enough to make a well person sick. If there is no gas 

 or electric light, either use the lamp as usual and put it, 

 carefully shaded, in an adjoining room, or, better still, use 

 a sperm candle for a night light. 



Care must be taken to protect the patient from any 

 noise which may disturb him, such as the noise of passing 

 steam and electric cars, heavy teams, and playing children. 



Keep a sick room neat and trim. Remove at once all 

 excreta and other offensive matters. Never allow such 

 things to remain even for a short time in the room. In 

 many diseases, especially scarlet fever, diphtheria, and con- 

 sumption, use pieces of old linen instead of handkerchiefs, 

 and burn them as soon as they are used. Carelessness in 

 this matter often spreads contagious diseases. 



441. Additional Hints and Helps. Change the clothes of 

 the bed and of the patient often. Do not let such cloth- 

 ing be put away in a closet with others. Put it to soak 

 at once in boiling water with some disinfectant added if 

 necessary. The fresh sheets and pillow cases should be 

 thoroughly dry and warm and never damp. 



Do not make a great show of bottles of medicines, spoons, 

 glasses, etc., carefully spread out on the table. Keep all such 

 things, except those absolutely necessary, in an adjoining 

 room. To a patient not used to sickness, a formidable array 

 of drugs and apparatus is apt to be discouraging. Some 

 simple thing like an orange, a tiny bouquet of favorite 

 flowers, or one or two playthings may take their place. 



