Hop and Hemlock Pillows
Ingredients
Directions
These are recbmmended for sleeplessness :
To Make a Hop PilloTV — Take two pieces of plain nankeen eighteen inches square, on one side braid some smiple pattern with white braid ; sew together and stuff full with nice fresh hops ; finish with white fringe an inch and a-half wide. Make a tidy for it of plain soft linen ; ravel the edges out one inch and overcast with blue split zephyr, and the pillow is complete.
A Hemlock Pillow can be made by gathering the young fresh branches and strip, them. Make a case of unbleached cotton, about 20 inches square, and fill with the hemlock needles. Then make an outer covering of Java canvas, and work some pretty pattern, sugges- tive of the woods, if possible. Those who camp out in summer and sleep on hemlock boughs can dream of the woods while sleeping on their pillows.
254 MEDICAL.
HOW TO CARE FOR THE SICK,
In all cases of sickness it is better that the care of the invalid be entrusted to some one person who shall act as nurse, to whom direc- tions shall be given by the attending physician, and who shall be respon- sible to him regarding the carrying out of his orders. As sickness will come sooner or later into every household, we should be prepared to meet and combat it. The sick room should be the most cheerful room in the house, if possible, with a southern exposure, in order to have the benefit of the sunlight. It should be removed from the noise of the street and the odors of the kitchen. It is a mistake to keep patients in a small, ofttimes illy-ventilated chamber, as is too frequently done. Better use the parlor, if no other room answers the requirements.
Remove all superfluous furniture and ornaments, and if the patient is sick with a contagious disease, like scarlet fever or diphtheria, take up the carpet and use rugs or small pieces of carpet where necessary. The reason of this is that in contagious diseases the propagating poison of the disease attaches itself to, and becomes absorbed by woolen material more readily than others, and the liability to contract the dis- ease by a visitor entering the room would remain a long time after the patient has recovered.
We will suppose some member of our family is sick and confined to the bed. Now, wife, mother or sister must be relieved as far as is pos- sible, of all other duties. In many cases this will be impossible, but whatever the household duties, do not neglect the patient, and do not, above all, show any disposition to worry and fret over the additional duties imposed. Let your presence in the sick room be a grateful one, in regard to the appearance you present to the patient. Let your dress be scrupulously clean ; always have a neat personal appearance, clean collar, handkerchief and a spotless apron. Keep the hands soft by the use of glycerine, or what is better, where it can be obtained, the appli- cation of cosmoline well rubbed in several times a day. A delicate touch should be cultivated, for a patient dislikes the feeling of a clumsy hand or a rough one. Wear the hair brushed back smoothly ; let your dress be a close fitting one, and if obliged to sit up at night and the necessity for extra clothing is felt, don't wear a shawl or a sack with loose ends. It may become entangled in some of the surroundings, and perhaps, just as your patient is going off into a doze you may upset a chair or a stand by catching in some part of it, and the noise may prevent any further sleep that night.
You are in sole charge of the sick room, and you must enforce cer- tain rules upon those who enter, being careful to observe them yourself. The first rule which is imperative is never to whisper. If you have anything to say speak out in a moderate low tone, but never whisper
HO W TO CARE FOR THE SICK. 255
or allow it to be done in the hearing of a patient, either in the sick room or an adjoining one. Nothing disturbs a patient more ; the tired nerves are strained to catch the import of whispered conversation, and imagination runs rife in the patient's brain.
In moving about the room walk with a light firm step, not on tiptoe. Avoid creaking boots. It is better to wear slippers. Don't sit on the bed or in a rocking chair. The first is likely to disarrange the clothes and disturb the patient. The latter is annoying to him to follow the motions of the chair. Whatever is to be done in the way of tidying up the room do quietly and promptly, but don't hurry.
Seek to anticipate the wants of your patient without his being obliged to express them. Never contradict a patient ; if inclined to be delirious, or if the mind is filled with morbid fancies and delusions, contradiction only excites ; rather seem to fall in with the imaginations of the patient and seek to turn the mind in a different direction. Oil the hinges of the doors and don't allow them to shut with a slam. Do not speak to others in the patient's presence of his disease, or talk to him when alone of the sickness of others. Better talk too Httle on any subject than too much. What conversation you have let it be of a cheerful nature, and no matter how serious the case may be, don't let alarm manifest itself m your countenance.
There are certain times in the twenty-four hours when patients are apt to be worse. About 5 o'clock in the afternoon there generally is an increase of fever ; at about 4 o'clock in the morning is the time when the powers of life are at their lowest ebb. The temperature of the body will be higher at 5 p. m. than it is at 4 a. m. In severe cases of illness the morning hour (4 a. m.), is the most critical of the twenty- four. More deaths occur at that time than at any other. It is, there- fore, necessary at that time to see that your patient is warm enough, or is not faint ; give a little nourishment or stimulus, beef tea or milk punch, and replenish the fire or put on more bed-clothing, if needed. In regard to replenishing the fire, have at all times ready paper bags filled with coal, which can be put on the fire one at a time without using a coal-hod and shovel, thus avoiding a noise.
When your patient wakes in the morning sponge the face and hands, or wipe them with a soft cloth wet with tepid water, in which may be put a teaspoonful of ammonia water. This is always refreshing, and it may be repeated several times during the day. Let him rinse out the mouth with water, and have ready some broth, gruel, or other nutri- ment for him to take. You can do all this by having your arrange- ments made the night before, without disturbing the rest of the family. Do not cook or warm any food in the patient's room. Food and water intended for the patient's use must not be kept in the room, only while giving it. Frequently the patient will be thirsty in the night. For this purpose ice may be used, given in small pieces.
256 MEDICAL.
In order to keep ice from melting, cut a piece of flannel, about nine inches square, and secure it by an elastic band, or by tying it round the mouih of an ordinary tumbler, so as to leave a cup-shaped depression of flannel within the tumbler to about half its depth. In the flannel cup so constructed pieces of ice may be preserved many hours ; all the longer if a piece of flannel from four to six inches square be used as a loose cover to the ice cup. Cheap flannel, with comparatively open meshes, is preferable, as the water easily drains through it, and the ice is thus kept quite dry. When good flannel, with close texture, is used, a small hole must be made in the bottom of the flannel cup, otherwise it will hold water, which facilitates the melting of the ice. Ice may be given freely in most cases and will allay the thirst better than water.
The body linen of a patient should be changed often and the bed linen daily. Where it is possible, use for bed coverings only sheets and blankets. Don't use the same upper sheet during the day that has been used at night, but have two sets, and while one is in use let the other be airing. It were better if all the bedding could be served the same way. When fresh sheets or clothing are to be put on, they should be thoroughly aired and warmed. One side of the bed should be made up at a time, and the patient gently moved from one side to the other. If at any time the patient feels cold or has a chill, take jugs or beer bottles with hot water, and apply them to the feet and legs, being sure to wrap them well with a number of thicknesses of flannel, lest they produce blistering. There will be times when the patient will want to be shielded from view, or when tidying up the room. To avoid dis- turbing the patient, it is best to put a screen about the bed. A screen maybe extemporized by throwing a sheet over a clothes-horse. A bed rest may be extemporized by taking a straight-backed chair and turning it so that it will rest on 4he front of the seat and the top of the back, with the feet in the air. The back is to be covered with pillows arranged so a. to support the head and shoulders and small of the back. It will allow the use of a position which is often a great relief to patients who have been long confined to bed. In some diseases, where the weight of the bed clothing is unbearable, a cradle may be extem- porized by sawing a barrel hoop into two half-circles and tying the pieces firmly together at right angles. This, placed over the patient's body, will relieve it from t
Knowing how necessary it is that patients should receive a proper amount of nourishment, and how often the sight or mention of food causes the stomach to revolt, it is of the greatest importance that the food designed to be given be presented to the patient in the most agree- able and tempting manner. Let the meals (whatever they may consist of), be served upon a tray covered with a clean napkin and in your daintiest ware. Don't let anything slop over, or bring too much of any-
HO W TO CARE FOR THE SICK. 257
thing. Never taste the food in the patient's presence. Arrange what you design for food without consulting your patient. Nine times out of ten if you ask, " What do you want to eat ?" the reply will be, "Nothing," or, " I don't care." Prop him up in bed by means of pil- lows ; put a shawl about his shoulders and a napkin under his chin. When the patient is helpless give small mouthfuls and don't hurry him. Vary the diet as much as is allowable. There are many cases where the system is actually starving, which could be reached by a little inge- nuity displayed in giving the kind of food required in just the right way.
Notice particularly the amount of food taken so that you may report to the attending physician. To the attending physician you should at each visit give a detailed history of the case since his last visit. (Details to be noted on paper during each day.) Mention all striking occur- rences— if for any reason the medicines have not been given exactly as ordered ; or, if taken, if rejected from the stomach ; note the color, quantity, and consistence of all the bodily discharges. Note whether the patient sleeps much or little ; if the sleep is quiet or restless ; if there is any delirium or moaning, etc.
It is better to present the history of the case to the physician at each visit in the form of a diary, in which your entries are made from time to time during the day.
It is imperative that the sick room should be well ventilated. Great care should be taken to keep everything in neatness and order; by omitting to do so the patient is worried, becomes fretful, and great harm is done.
Always keep the feet warm and the head cool as possible. Never allow a sick person to ask the second time for anything ; attend to their wants immediately ; if you do think they are whimsical, it is a privilege they have, and, in fact, about the only one they do enjoy.
It is very hurtful to let a sick person drink much cold water at one time, even if they are not very sick ; some warm drink or cold corn, or crust coffee (toasting the corn and crusts), can be drunk with good results. If they must have cold water, take them just what you are will- ing they should drink, be it ever so little, and no more, and say to them to drink hearty, and smile (if the quantity is very small), and, if they are able, it will provoke a smile in return.
If the patient has a burning fever, take an earthen wash-bowl, fill two-thirds full of tepid water, in which put one tablespoonful of com- mon baking soda; then bathe the face, body and limbs freely with it and wipe dry. This treatment for fever is followed by our best physi- cians.
Never venture into the sick room if you are in a violent perspiration (if circumstances require your continuance there for any time), for the 17
258 MEDICAL.
moment your body becomes cold it is in a state likely to absorb the infection and give you the disease ; nor visit a sick person, especially if the complaint be of a contagious nature, with an empty stomach, as this disposes the system more readily to receive the contagion. In attending a sick person place yourself where the air passes from the door or window to the bed of the diseased, not between the sick person and any fire that is in the room, as the heat of the fire will draw the infectious vapor in that direction, and you run the risk of danger from breathing it in. All clothing and clothes used should be thoroughly aired. A pretty bouquet or a nice plant in the sick room will often give great pleasure.
It is also essential to know how to hold a sick person with ease. Never grasp him or support any part of the body with the tips of your fingers, but with the whole breadth of your hand laid smoothly on the skin. If you use the finger ends for holding any weight, they will press and dig into the patient's flesh, causing him great discomfort, particu- larly if the part be at all inflamed; but if your whole hand, with fingers a little spread out, divide the weight over its surface, no discomfort or as little as possible is produced.
Obey implicitly the directions of the attending physician ; when med- icines are ordered to be given, mark on a sheet of paper the hours at which each dose is to be given and check each dose taken. Never guess at the dose ordered. See that all medicines are labeled and look at the label each time if more than one kind is to be given. Ask your physi- cian how much nourishment he wishes the patient to have and give it at stated times, with as much regularity as the medicine.
The medicine to be given and the cups, spoons and glasses, for the use of the patient should be kept out of his sight, either in a closet or on a table in an adjoining room. Spoons that have been used should be placed in water each time after using. A small dish of water on the stand will serve for this purpose.
There is one thing which will often require considerable tact to accomplish — the defense of your patient against the well-meaning but oftentimes injudicious interference of friends. If a caller commences a conversation which will tend to disturb or fatigue your patient, speak kindly but firmly to stop it. Remember your first duty is to your patient. You can explain your reasons to the friend afterwards. Don't let a caller kiss your patient. It is a bad habit in sickness and one fraught with danger at times, and is almost always annoying to the patient.
STATE OF THE PULSE AND LUNGS. Every intelligent person should know how to ascertain the state of the pulse in health ; then, by comparing it with what it is when he is ailing, he may have some idea of the urgency of his case. Parents
VAL UABLE AD VICE TO MO THERS. 259
should know the health pulse of each child — as now and then a person is bom with a peculiarly slow or fast pulse — and the very case in hand may be of that peculiarity. An infant's pulse is one hundred and forty ; a child of seven about eighty, and from twenty to sixty years it, is sev- enty beats a minute, declining to sixty at eighty. A healthful grown l^erson's pulse beats seventy times a minute ; there may be good health down to sixty, but if the pulse always exceeds seventy there is disease; the machine is working itself out ; there is fever or inflammation some- where and the body is feeding on itself; as in consumption, when the pulse is quick, that is over seventy, gradually increasing, with decreased chances of cure, until it reaches one hundred and ten or one hundred and twelve, when death comes before many days. When the pulse is over seventy for months, and there is a slight cough, the lungs are affected.
Persons desirous of ascertaining the true state of their lungs are directed to draw in as much breath as they conveniently can ; they are then to count as far as they are able in a slow and audible voice with- out drawmg in more breath. The number of seconds they can con- tinue must be carefully observed. In consumption the time does not exceed ten and and is frequently less than six seconds. In pleurisy and pneumonia it ranges from nine to four seconds. When the lungs are in sound condition the time will range as high as from twenty to thirty- five seconds.
Transcribed from a scanned cookbook and modernised for today's kitchens. Where the book gave no heat or time, or said "a moderate oven", the temperatures and times here may be modern equivalents rather than the book's own figures. See the original page.
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