A. H. S.

CONTENTS

Preface [v]
Introduction [xi]
CHAPTER I
Page
Causes and Prevention of Sickness

Communicable diseases, [1]. Micro-organisms and bacteria, [1].Parasites, [3]. Structure and development of parasites, [4].Bacteria, [4]. Shape, [4]. Size, [5]. Motion, [5]. Multiplication,[5]. Spores, [7]. Distribution, [8]. Protozoa, [8]. Visible parasites,[8]. Transmission of pathogenic organisms, [9]. Defensesof the body, [12]. Immunity, [13]. Vaccination and inoculation,[15]. Carriers, [17]. Non-communicable diseases, [20].Physical examinations, [22].

[1]
CHAPTER II
Health and the Home

Heredity, [27]. Hygiene of environment and person, [28].Ventilation, [29]. Lighting, [32]. Cleanliness of houses, [33].Garbage, [37]. Insects, [38]. Sewage, [39]. Personal cleanliness,[41]. Oral hygiene, [44]. Treatment of teeth, [46]. Clothing, [47].Food, [48]. Elimination, [52]. Rest and fatigue, [53]. Sleep, [55].Recreation, [55].

[27]
CHAPTER III
Babies and Their Care

Growth and development, [64]. Average size, [64]. Musculardevelopment, [65]. Development of special senses, of speech,of teeth, [66]. Normal excretions, [67]. Clothing, [68]. Sleep, [70].Fresh air, [72]. Diet, [72]. Intervals of feeding, [73]. Water,[75]. Weaning, [75]. Nursing bottles and nipples, [75]. Tables ofdiet, [78]. Bathing, [78]. Eyes, [80]. Mouth, [81]. Nostrils, [81].Genital organs, [81]. Development of habits, [82]. Exercise, [83].Play and toys, [85].

[60]
CHAPTER IV
Indications of Sickness

Objective symptoms, [92]. Temperature, [92]. Pulse, [96].Respiration, [99]. General appearance, [100]. Special senses,[101]. Voice, tongue, throat, gums, [102]. Cough, [103]. Appetite,[103]. Excretions, [103]. Loss of weight, [104]. Sleep, [104].Mental conditions, [104]. Subjective symptoms, [105]. Pain,[105]. Records, [107]. Tuberculosis, cancer and mental illness,[107]. Tuberculosis, [109]. Cancer, [111]. Mental illness, [112].

[88]
CHAPTER V
Equipment and Care of the Sick Room

Choice of a sick room, [118]. Furnishing, [120]. Ventilation, [123].Heating, [124]. Lighting, [124]. Cleaning, [126]. The attendant,[127].

[117]
CHAPTER VI
Beds and Bedmaking

Bedsteads, [133]. Mattresses, [135]. Care of the mattress, [136].Pillows, [136]. Protection of the mattress and pillows, [137].Rubber sheets and pillow-cases, [138]. Sheets, [139]. Drawsheets, [139]. Pillow covers, [140]. Blankets, [140]. Comfortersand quilts, [141]. Counterpanes, [141]. Bedmaking, [141]. Tomake an unoccupied bed, [143]. To change a patient's pillows,[146]. Lifting a patient in bed, [146]. To turn a patient in bed,[147]. To change sheets while patient is in bed, [147]. To movepatient from one bed to another, [150].

[132]
CHAPTER VII
Baths and Bathing

Cleansing baths, [154]. Bed bath, [156]. Care of the mouth andteeth, [160]. Care of the hair, [163]. To wash the hair of a bedpatient, [164]. Hot foot-baths, [165]. Cool sponge bath, [166].

[154]
CHAPTER VIII
Appliances and Methods for the Sick-Room

Devices to give support, [172]. Bedpans, [176]. Daily routinein the sick-room, [179]. Time for visitors, [182].

[169]
CHAPTER IX
Feeding the Sick

The digestive process, [188]. Feeding the sick, [191]. Liquiddiet, [192]. Semi-solid diet, [192]. Light or convalescent diet,[193]. Full diet, [193]. Serving food for the sick, [195]. Tofeed a helpless patient, [197].

[187]
CHAPTER X
Medicines and Other Remedies

Action of drugs, [200]. Amateur dosing, [202]. Patent remedies,[205]. Administration of medicine, [206]. Suppositories, [209].Enemata, [210]. Sprays and gargles, [213]. Inhalation, [213].Inunction, [214]. Household medicine cupboard, [215].

[200]
CHAPTER XI
Application of Heat, Cold and Counter-Irritants

Inflammation, [220]. Hot applications, [225]. Dry heat, [225].Moist heat, [227]. Stupes or hot fomentations, [229]. Coldapplications, [231]. Dry cold, [231]. Moist cold, [232]. Coldcompresses for the eyes, [232]. Counter-irritants, [233]. Mustardpaste, [233]. Mustard leaves, [234].

[220]
CHAPTER XII
Care of Patients with Communicable Diseases

Incubation period, [238]. Care of patients with colds or otherslight infections, [238]. Care during more serious infections,[242]. Children's diseases, [246]. Rules for isolation and exclusionfrom school, [247]. Disinfection, [248]. Care of nose andthroat discharges, [249]. Care of discharges from the bowels andbladder, [249]. Bath water, [250]. Care of the hands, [250].Care of utensils, [251]. Care of linen, [251]. Disinfection ofthe person, [252]. Termination of quarantine, [252]. Terminaldisinfection, [253]. Fumigation, [254].

[236]
CHAPTER XIII
Common Ailments and Emergencies

Conditions in which the nervous system is involved, [257].Headache, [257]. Sleeplessness, [258]. Fainting, [259]. Convulsions,[260]. Shock, [261]. Stimulants, [263]. Sunstroke andheat exhaustion, [264]. Conditions in which the digestive tractis affected, [265]. Nausea and vomiting, [265]. Hiccough, [265].Diarrhœa, [266]. Constipation, [266]. Colic, [266]. Conditionsin which the eyes or ears are affected, [267]. Styes, [267]. Foreignbodies in the eye, [267]. Disorders affecting the ears, [268].Conditions in which the skin is affected, [269]. Prickly heat,[269]. Insect bites and stings, [270]. Ivy poisoning, [270]. Otheremergencies, [270]. Chills, [270]. Croup, [271]. Bleeding, [272].Treatment of slight wounds, [272]. Nose bleed, [274]. Profusemenstruation, [275]. Other injuries, [275]. Sprains, [275].Bruises, [276]. Burns and scalds, [277]. Brush burn, [278].

[257]
CHAPTER XIV
Special Points in the Care of Children, Convalescents,Chronics, and the Aged

Children, [281]. Physical defects, [283]. Eye-strain, [284]. Enlargedtonsils and adenoids, [284]. Defective hearing, [285].Defective teeth, [286]. Posture, [286]. Predisposition to nervousness,[292]. Convalescent patients, [294]. Chronic patients,[299]. Care of the aged, [303].

[280]
CHAPTER XV
Questions for Review[312]
Appendix

Circulars of information issued by Division of Child Hygiene,New York Department of Health.

[319]
Glossary [326]
Index [331]

INTRODUCTION

Health and sickness, at all times momentous factors in the welfare of our nation, now as never before are matters of vital importance. To win its victories both in peace and in war, the nation needs all its citizens with all their powers, and it is a matter of more than passing interest that, as conservative estimates show, at least three persons out of every hundred living in the United States are constantly incapacitated by serious sickness. In 1910 these seriously sick persons numbered more than 3,000,000. Even more significant, perhaps, is the fact that at least half of our national sickness could be prevented if knowledge and resources that we now possess were fully utilized.

The problem of sickness is by no means peculiar to our own day and generation. It has been a medical, a religious, and a social problem in every age. From the time of Job its meaning has baffled philosophers; from his day to ours thoughtful men have devoted their lives to searching for causes and cures. Yet before the middle of the last century little progress was made, either in scientific treatment or in prevention of disease.

The invention of the microscope first made possible a real understanding of sickness. Through the microscope a new world was revealed,—a world of the infinitely small, swarming with tiny forms of animal and vegetable life. No one, however, appreciated the significance of these hitherto invisible plants and animals until the latter part of the 19th century, when the great French savant, Pasteur, proved that little vegetable forms, now called bacteria, cause putrefaction and fermentation, and also certain diseases of animals and man. Pasteur's discoveries were carried still further by other scientists, with the result that bacteriology has revolutionized medicine, agriculture, and many industries, and has made possible the brilliant achievements of modern sanitary science. For the first time in history the prevention of epidemics has become possible, and sickness is no longer regarded as a punishment for sin.