SCOUTING FOR GIRLS 
253 
people and should have a regular hour for rest in the 
daytime. If they sleep, so much the better, as it has 
been proved that patients who take a nap during the day 
sleep better at night. After four o’clock give a drink of 
some kind of hot or cold substance, as needed or desired 
— broth, milk, lemonade. In the late afternoon sick peo- 
ple are often tired and restless. Change of position, re- 
arrangement of the pillows' or a good rub give comfort 
and relieve the restlessness. Diversion of some kind, 
nothing noisy or exciting, may serve the same purpose. 
It may be found wise to delay the bath until this time 
of day as bathing has a soothing effect. 
Between supper and bedtime the sick person should 
be kept from excitement. This is a good time for read- 
ing aloud or allowing them to read for themselves, but 
a very poor time to see visitors. 
Preparations for the Night . Bring in all the necessi- 
ties for washing the hands and face and brushing the 
teeth and combing the hair, and help where needed. 
Change the nightgown (it is* better to have a gown for 
the day and one for the night), brush the crumbs from 
the bed, make the sheet smooth, shake up the pillows 
and straighten out the bedclothes, having extra covers 
handy in case of need. Fill the hot water bag, attend 
to the fire, if there is one, and arrange everything in 
the room just as- it will be needed for the night. Give 
a warm drink, and allow the patient to rinse the mouth 
(or, if wished, the brushing of the teeth may be delayed 
until this time). The last thing to do for the sick person 
is to give a good rub, paying special attention to the bony 
parts (lower end of spine, shoulder-blades, hips, knees, 
ankles). Then arrange the ventilation. 
> Before settling a sick person for the night, be sure 
that everything about the room is done, as any moving 
about after she is prepared to sleep may tend to disturb 
her and prevent her from going to sleep 
