XXVI.
CARE OF THE SICK.
IT is interesting to notice in the histories of our Lord the
prominent place given to the care of the sick. When he first sent out
the apostles, it was to heal the sick as well as to preach. Again, when
he sent out the seventy, their first command was to "heal the sick," and
next to say, "the kingdom of God has come nigh unto you." The body was
to be healed first, in order to attend to the kingdom of God, even when
it was "brought nigh."
Jesus Christ spent more time and labor in the cure of men's bodies
than in preaching, even if we subtract those labors with his earthly
father by which family homes were provided. When he ascended to the
heavens, his last recorded words to his followers, as given by Mark,
were, that his disciples should "lay hands on the sick," that they might
recover. Still more directly is the duty of care for the sick exhibited
in the solemn allegorical description of the last day. It was those who
visited the sick that were blessed; it was those who did not visit the
sick who were told to "depart." Thus are we abundantly taught that one
of the most sacred duties of the Christian family is the training of its
inmates to care and kind attention to the sick.
Every woman who has the care of young children, or of a large
family, is frequently called upon to advise what shall be done for some
one who is indisposed; and often, in circumstances where she must trust
solely to her own
judgment. In such cases, some err by neglecting to do any thing at all,
till the patient is quite sick; but a still greater number err from
excessive and injurious dosing.
The two great causes of the ordinary slight attacks of illness in a
family, are, sudden chills, which close the pores of the skin, and thus
affect the throat, lungs, or bowels; and the excessive or improper use
of food. In most cases of illness from the first cause, bathing the
feet, and some aperient drink to induce perspiration, are suitable
remedies.
In case of illness from improper food, or excess in eating,
fasting for one or two meals, to
give the system time and chance to relieve itself, is the safest remedy.
Sometimes, a gentle cathartic of castor-oil may be
needful; but it is best first to try fasting.
A safe relief from injurious articles in the stomach is an emetic of
warm water; but to be effective, several tumblerfuls must
be given in quick succession, and till the stomach can receive no more.
The following extract from a discourse of Dr. Burne, before the
London Medical Society, contains important information: "In civilized
life, the causes which are most generally and continually operating in
the production of diseases are, affections of the mind, improper diet,
and retention of the intestinal excretions. The undue retention of
excrementitious matter allows of the absorption of its more liquid
parts, which is a cause of great impurity to the blood, and the
excretions, thus rendered hard and knotty, act more or less as
extraneous substances, and, by their irritation, produce a determination
of blood to the intestines and to the neighboring viscera, which
ultimately ends in inflammation. It also has a great effect on the whole
system; causes a determination of blood to the head, which oppresses the
brain and dejects the mind; deranges the functions of the stomach;
causes flatulency; and produces a general state of discomfort."
Dr. Combe remarks on this subject: "In the natural
and healthy state, under a proper system of diet, and with sufficient
exercise, the bowels are relieved regularly, once every day."
Habit "is powerful in modifying
the result, and in sustaining healthy action when once fairly
established. Hence the obvious advantage of observing as much regularity
in relieving the system, as in taking our meals." It is often the case
that soliciting nature at a regular period, once a day, will remedy
constipation without medicine, and induce a regular and healthy state of
the bowels. "When, however, as most frequently happens, the constipation
arises from the absence of all assistance from the abdominal and
respiratory muscles, the first step to be taken is, again to solicit
their aid; first, by removing all impediments to free respiration, such
as stays, waistbands, and belts; secondly, by resorting to such active
exercise as shall call the muscles into full and regular action;*
and lastly, by proportioning the quantity of food to the wants of the
system, and the condition of the digestive organs.
"If we employ these means, systematically and preservingly, we shall
rarely fail in at last resorting the healthy action of the bowels, with
little aid from medicine. But if we neglect these modes, we may go on
for years, adding pill to pill, and dose to does, without ever attaining
the end at which we aim."
"There is no point in which a woman needs more knowledge
and discretion than in administering remedies for what seem slight
attacks, which are not supposed to require the attention of a physician.
It is little realized that purgative drugs are unnatural modes of
stimulating the internal organs, tending to exhaust them of their
secretions, and to debilitate and disturb the animal economy. For this
reason, they should be used as little as possible; and fasting, and
perspiration, and the other methods pointed out, should always be first
resorted to."
When medicine must be given, it should be borne in mind that there
are various classes of purgatives, which produce very diverse effects.
Some, like salts, operate to thin the blood, and reduce the system;
others are stimulating; and others have a peculiar operation on certain
organs. Of course, great discrimination and knowledge are needed, in
order to select the kind which is suitable to the particular disease, or
to the particular constitution of the invalid. This shows the folly of
using the many kinds of pills, and other quack medicines, where no
knowledge can be had of their composition. Pills which are good for one
kind of disease, might operate as poison in another state of the system.
It is very common in cases of colds, which affect the lungs or
throat, to continue to try one dose after another for relief. It will be
well to bear in mind at such times, that all which goes into the stomach
must be first absorbed into the blood before it can reach the diseased
part; and that there is some danger of injuring the stomach, or other
parts of the system, by such a variety of doses, many of which, it is
probable, will be directly contradictory in their nature, and thus
neutralize any supposed benefit they might separately impart.
When a cold affects the head and eyes, and also impedes breathing
through the nose, great relief is gained by a wet napkin
spread over the upper part of the face, covering the nose except an
opening for breath. This is to be
covered by folds of flannel fastened over the napkin with a
handkerchief.
So also a wet towel over the throat and whole chest,
covered with folds of flannel, often relieves oppressed lungs.
Ordinarily, a cold can be arrested on its first symptoms by
coverings in bed and a bottle of hot water, securing free
perspiration. Often, at its first appearance, it can be stopped by a
spoonful or two of whisky, or any alcoholic liquor, in
hot water, taken on going to bed. Warm coverering to induce
perspiration will assist the process. These simple remedies are safest.
Perspiration should always be followed by a towel-bath.
It is very unwise to tempt the appetite of a person who is
indisposed. The cessation of appetite is the warning of nature that the
system is in such a state that food can not be digested. When food is to
be given to one who has no desire for it, beef-tea is the best in most
cases.
The following suggestions may be found useful in regard to nursing
the sick. As nothing contributes more to the restoration of health than
pure air, it should be a primary object to keep a sick-room well
ventilated. At least twice in the twenty-four hours, the patient should
be well covered, and fresh air freely admitted from out of doors. After
this, if need be, the room should be restored to a proper temperature,
by the aid of an open fire. Bedding and clothing should also be well
aired, and frequently changed; as the exhalations from the body, in
sickness, are peculiarly deleterious. Frequent ablutions of the whole
body, if possible, are very useful; and for these, warm water may be
employed, when cold water is disagreeable.
A sick-room should always be kept very neat and in perfect order;
and all haste, noise, and bustle should be avoided. In order to secure
neatness, order, and quiet, in case of long illness, the following
arrangement should be made. Keep a large box for fuel, which will need
to be filled only twice in twenty-four hours. Provide also and
keep in the room or an adjacent closet, a small tea-kettle, a saucepan,
a pail of water for drinks and ablutions, a pitcher, a covered
porringer, two pint bowls, two tumblers, two cups and saucers, two
wine-glasses, two large and two small spoons; also a dish in which to
wash these articles; a good supply of towels and a broom. Keep a
slop-bucket near by to receive the wash of the room. Procuring all these
articles at once, will save much noise and confusion.
Whenever medicine or food is given, spread a clean towel over the
person or bed-clothing, and get a clean handkerchief, as nothing is more
annoying to a weak stomach than the stickiness and soiling produced by
medicine and food.
Keep the fire-place neat, and always wash all articles and put them
in order as soon as they are out of use. A sick person has nothing to do
but look about the room; and when every thing is neat and in order, a
feeling of comfort is induced, while disorder, filth, and neglect are
constant objects of annoyance which, if not complained of, are yet felt.
One very important particular in the case of those who are delicate
in constitution, as well as in the case of the sick, is the preservation
of warmth, especially in the hands and the feet. The
equal circulation of the blood
is an important element for good health, and this is impossible when the
extremities are habitually or frequently cold. It is owing to this fact
that the coldness caused by wetting the feet is so injurious. In cases
where disease or a weak constitution causes a feeble or imperfect
circulation, great pains should be taken to dress the feet and hands
warmly, especially around the wrists and ankles, where the blood-vessels
are nearest to the surface and thus most exposed to cold. Warm elastic
wristlets and anklets would save many a feeble person from increasing
decay or disease.
When the circulation is feeble from debility or disease, the union
of carbon and oxygen in the capillaries is slower
than in health, and therefore care should be taken to preserve the heat
thus generated by warm clothing and protection from cold draughts. In
nervous debility, it is peculiarly important to preserve the animal
heat, for its excessive loss especially affects weak nerves. Many an
invalid is carelessly and habitually suffering cold feet, who would
recover health by proper care to preserve animal heat, especially in the
extremities.
The following are useful directions for dressing a blister. Spread
thinly, on a linen cloth, an ointment composed of one third of
beeswax to two thirds of tallow; lay this upon a
linen cloth folded many times. With a sharp pair of scissors make an
aperture in the lower part of the blister-bag, with a little hole above
to give it vent. Break the raised skin as little as possible. Lay on the
cloth spread as directed. The blister at first should be dressed as
often as three times in a day, and the dressing renewed each time. Hot
fomentations in most cases will be as good as a blister, less painful,
and safer.
Always prepare food for the sick in the neatest and most careful
manner. It is in sickness that the senses of smell and taste are most
susceptible of annoyance; and often, little mistakes or negligences in
preparing food will take away all appetite.
Food for the sick should be cooked on coals, that no smoke may have
access to it; and great care must be taken to prevent, by stirring, any
adherence to the bottom of the cooking vessel, as this always gives a
disagreeable taste.
Keeping clean handkerchiefs and towels at hand, cooling the pillows,
sponging the hands with water, (with care to dry them thoroughly,)
swabbing the mouth with a clean linen rag on the end of a stick, are
modes of increasing the comfort of the sick. Always throw a shawl over a
sick person when raised up.
Be careful to understand a physician's directions, and
to obey them implicitly. If it
be supposed that any other
person knows better about the case than the physician, dismiss the
physician, and employ that person in his stead.
It is always best to consult the physician as to where medicines
shall be purchased, and to show the articles to him before using them,
as great impositions are practiced in selling old, useless, and
adulterated drugs. Always put labels on vials of medicine, and keep them
out of the reach of children.
Be careful to label all powders, and particularly all
white powders, as many poisonous
medicines in this form are easily mistaken for others which are
harmless.
In nursing the sick, always speak gently and cheeringly; and, while
you express sympathy for their pain and trials, stimulate them to bear
all with fortitude, and with resignation to the Heavenly Father who
"doth not willingly afflict," and "who causeth all things to work
together for good to them that love him." Offer to read the Bible or
other devotional books, whenever it is suitable, and will not be deemed
obtrusive.
Miss Ann Preston, one of the most refined as well as talented and
learned female physicians, in a published article, gives valuable
instruction as to the training of nurses. She claims that every woman
should be trained for this office, and that some who have special traits
that fit them for it should make it their daily professional business.
She remarks that the indispensable qualities in a good nurse are common
sense, conscientiousness, and sympathetic benevolence: and thus
continues:
"God himself made and commissioned one set of nurses; and in doing
this and adapting them to utter helplessness and weakness, what did he
do? He made them to love the dependence and to see something to admire
in the very perversities of their charge. He made them to humor the
caprices and regard both reasonable and unreasonable complainings. He
made them to bend tenderly over the disturbed and irritated, and fold
them to
quiet assurance in arms made soft with love; in a word, he made
mothers! And, other things being
equal, whoever has most maternal tenderness and warm sympathy with the
sufferer is the best nurse." And it is those most nearly endowed by
nature with these traits who should be selected to be trained for the
sacred office of nurse to the sick, while, in all the moral training of
womanhood, this ideal should be the aim.
Again, Miss Preston wisely suggests that "persons may be
conscientious and benevolent and possess good judgment in many respects,
and yet be miserable nurses of the sick for want of training and right
knowledge.
"Knowledge, the assurance
that one knows what to do, always gives
presence of mind-- and presence of mind is important not only in
a sick-room but in every home. Who has not known consternation in a
family when some one has fainted, or been burned, or cut, while none
were present who knew how to stop the flowing blood, or revive the
fainting, or apply the saving application to the burn? And yet knowledge
and efficiency in such cases would save many a life, and be a most
fitting and desirable accomplishment in every woman."
"We are slow to learn the mighty influence of common agencies, and
the greatness of little things, in their bearing upon life and health.
The woman who believes it takes no strength to bear a little noise or
some disagreeable announcements, and loses patience with the weak,
nervous invalid who is agonized with creaking doors or shoes, or loud,
shrill voices, or rustling papers, or sharp, fidgety motions, or the
whispering so common in sick-rooms and often so acutely distressing to
the sufferer, will soon correct such misapprehensions by herself
experiencing a nervous fever."
Here the writer would put in a plea for the increasing multitudes of
nervous sufferers not confined to a sick-room, and yet exposed to all
the varied sources of pain incident to an exhausted nervous system,
which often cause more intolerable and
also more wearing pain than other kinds of suffering.
"An exceeding acuteness of the senses is the result of many forms of
nervous disease. A heavy breath, an unwashed hand, a noise that would
not have been noticed in health, a crooked table-cover or bed-spread may
disturb or oppress; and more than one invalid has spoken in my hearing
of the sickening effect produced by the nurse tasting her food, or
blowing in her drinks to make them cool. One woman, and a sensible woman
too, told me her nurse had turned a large cushion upon her bureau with
the back part in front. She determined not to be disturbed nor to speak
of such a trifle, but after struggling
three hours in vain to banish the annoyance, she was forced to
ask to have the cushion placed right."
In this place should be mentioned the suffering caused to persons of
reduced nervous power not only by the smoke of tobacco, but by the fetid
effluvium of it from the breath and clothing of persons who smoke. Many
such are sickened in society and in car-traveling, and to a degree
little imagined by those who gain a dangerous pleasure at the frequent
expense of the feeble and suffering.
Miss Preston again remarks, "It is often exceedingly important to
the very weak, who can take but very little nutriment, to have that
little whenever they want it. I have known invalids sustain great injury
and suffering; when exhausted for want of food, they have had to wait
and wait, feeling as if every minute was an hour, while some well-fed
nurse delayed its coming. Said a lady, 'It makes me hungry now to think
of the meals she brought me upon that little waiter when I was sick,
such brown thin toast, such good broiled beef, such fragrant tea, and
every thing looking so exquisitely nice! If at any time I did not think
of any thing I wanted, nor ask for food, she did not annoy me with
questions, but brought some little
delicacy at the proper time, and when it came, I could take it.'
"If there is one purpose of a personal kind for which it is
especially desirable to lay up means, it is for being well nursed in
sickness; yet in the present state of society, this is absolutely
impossible, even to the wealthy, because of the scarcity of competent
nurses. Families worn down with the long and extreme illness of a member
require relief from one whose feelings will be less taxed, and who can
better endure the labor.
"But alas! how often is it impossible, for love or money, to obtain
one capable of taking the burden from the exhausted sister or mother or
daughter, and how often in consequence they have died prematurely or
struggled through weary years with a broken constitution. Appeal to
those who have made the trial, and you will find that very seldom have
they been able to have those who by nature or by training were competent
for their duties. Ignorant, unscrupulous, inattentive--how often they
disturb and injure the patient! A physician told me that one of his
patients had died because the nurse, contrary to orders, had at a
critical period washed her with cold water. I have known one who, by
stealth, quieted a fretful child with laudanum, and of others who
exhausted the sick by incessant talking. One lady said that when, to
escape this distressing garrulity, she closed her eyes, the nurse
exclaimed aloud, 'Why, she is going to sleep while I am talking to her.'
"A few only of the sensible, quiet, and loving women, whose presence
everywhere is a blessing, have qualified themselves and followed nursing
as a business. Heaven bless that few! What a sense of relief have I seen
pervade a family when such a one has been procured; and what a treasure
seemed found!
"There is very commonly an extreme susceptibility in the sick to the
moral atmosphere about them.
They feel the
healthful influence of the presence of a true-hearted attendant and
repose in it, though they may not be able to define the cause; while
dissimulation, falsehood, recklessness, coarseness, jar terribly and
injuriously on their heightened sensibilities. 'Are the Sisters of
Charity really better nurses than most other women?' I asked an
intelligent lady who had seen much of our military hospitals. 'Yes, they
are,' was her reply. 'Why should it be so?' 'I think it is because with
them it is a work of self-abnegation, and of duty to God, and they are
so quiet and self-forgetful in its exercise that they do it better,
while many other women show such self-consciousness and are so fussy!"
Is there any reason why every Protestant woman should not be trained
for this self-denying office as a duty
owed to God?
We can not better close this chapter than by one more quotation from
the same intelligent and attractive writer: "The good nurse is an
artist. O the pillowy, soothing softness of her touch, the neatness of
her simple, unrustling dress, the music of her assured yet gentle voice
and tread, the sense of security and rest inspired by her kind and
hopeful face, the promptness and attention to every want, the repose
that like an atmosphere encircles her, the evidence of heavenly
goodness, and love that she diffuses!" Is not such an art as this worth
much to attain?
In training children to the Christian life, one very impor ant
opportunity occurs whenever sickness appears in the family or
neighborhood. The repression of disturbing noises, the speaking in tones
of gentleness and sympathy, the small offices of service or nursing in
which children can aid, should be inculcated as ministering to the Lord
and Elder Brother of man, who has said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it
unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me."
One of the blessed opportunities for such ministries is given to
children in the cultivation of flowers. The entrance
into a sick-room of a smiling, healthful child, bringing an offering of
flowers raised by its own labor, is like an angel of comfort and love,
"and alike it blesseth him who gives and him who takes."
A time is coming when the visitation of the sick, as a part of the
Christian life, will hold a higher consideration than is now generally
accorded, especially in the cases of uninteresting sufferers who have
nothing to attract kind attentions, except that they are suffering
children of our Father in heaven, and "one of the least" of the brethren
of Jesus Christ.
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