Page:Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management.djvu/2091

Rh but there are few circumstances in which good air can be obtained through the sick-room door; on the contrary, the gases generated in the lower parts of the house are likely to be drawn through it into the invalid's room. When these precautions have been taken, and plain, nourishing diet, such as the patient desires, supplied to him, probably little more can be done, unless more serious symptoms present themselves; in which case medical advice will be sought.

Ventilation.— Under no circumstances is ventilation of the sick-room so essential as in cases of febrile diseases, usually considered infectious, such as influenza, whooping-cough, small-pox and chicken-pox, scarlet fever, measles, and erysipelas; all these are considered communicable through the air, but there is little danger of infection being thus transmitted provided the room is kept thoroughly ventilated. But if this essential condition is neglected, the power of infection is greatly increased by being concentrated in the confined and impure air; it settles upon the attendants and visitors, especially where their clothes are of wool, and is frequently communicated in this manner. A sheet wrung out in some disinfecting fluid and kept moistened with it, should be hung across the door or passage-way in all cases of infectious diseases.

The comfort of feverish patients, and indeed of most sick persons, is greatly increased by being sponged with tepid water in which camphorated spirit is dropped in the proportion of 1 teaspoonful to 1 quart of water. The patient's face may be sponged every 2 hours in warm weather. An impression prevails that flowers poison the atmosphere of a sick-room. The contrary is, however, the case. By absorbing the carbonic acid in the room and giving out oxygen, the air is purified by the plants. Lilies, and some other very odorous plants, may, however, give out smells unsuited to a sick-room, the atmosphere of which should always be fresh and natural.

Atmosphere of the sick-room.—Under all circumstances this should be kept as fresh and sweet as the open air, while the temperature is kept up by artificial heat. Care must be taken that the fire burns clear, and gives out no smoke into the room; that the room is kept perfectly clean, and wiped over with a damp cloth every day, if boarded or laid with linoleum; or sprinkled with damp tea-leaves, or other aromatic leaves, and swept, if carpeted; that all utensils are emptied and cleaned immediately after use, and not once in four-and-twenty hours, as is sometimes done. A slop-pail should never enter a sick-room; everything should be carried direct to the water-closet, emptied there, and brought up clean; in the best hospitals the slop-pail is unknown. "I do not approve," said Miss Nightingale, "of making housemaids of nurses—that would be waste of means; but I have seen surgical sisters, women whose hands were worth to them two or three guineas a week, down on their knees, scouring a room or hut, because they thought it was not fit for their patients;