The bed and bedding should be kept clean and fresh. The patient should be placed between sheets and not between blankets even in the winter time. The top cover on the bed should be white or of a light color. All soiled linen should be removed immediately and the pillows should be kept well aired. If the patient is weak, or for other reasons must be handled by attendants, a draw sheet will be a great convenience; a sheet may be folded about three times for this purpose and placed under the patient’s hips on top of the bed sheet. This may be used to turn the patient, move the patient from one side of the bed to the other, or it may be found of service in placing him on the adjusting bench. This draw sheet may be left under the patient without discomfort. At all times care should be exercised that the sheet, draw sheet and covers are kept free from wrinkles. The bed clothes should be changed in such a way as to disturb the patient as little as possible. One-half of the bed should be changed at a time and the patient moved over on the clean sheet with the aid of the draw sheet. It is not expected that the chiropractor will find it necessary to do all these things himself; indeed, if the patient is ill enough to require this kind of care there should be a nurse on the case. However, even though he is not going to do these things himself, he certainly ought to know how they should be done.
Draw Sheet in position for lifting patient to adjusting table.
If the patient is forced to use a bed pan, great care should be exercised that the bed clothes and clothing of the patient are not soiled. If they are they should be immediately changed or at least as soon as practicable. The disposal of the excreta is of vital importance. It should be removed from the sick room immediately. From a hygienic standpoint the fecal matter, urine and sputum should be disinfected with a 10% solution of formalin and allowed to stand for an hour, or by adding bichloride to make a solution of one to one thousand. The fecal matter should be placed in a receptacle and enough hot water added to cover it, then a cup of unslacked lime added and this allowed to stand covered for a couple of hours before throwing into the sewer.
The patient confined to the bed should receive proper care. His hands and face should be bathed and he should be given a sponge bath. This may be done without disturbing the patient materially and may add greatly to his comfort. If the incoördination is in the fever family there will be no danger of the patient taking cold, but if it is not a febrile dis-ease, great care must be taken to prevent this complication. Everything possible should be done to add to the comfort of the patient and to create a pleasant and cheerful atmosphere about the sick room.
Lifting a patient with draw-sheet to place on adjusting table.
Hygienic Measures Used in So-called Communicable Dis-eases
In discussing hygienic measures to be used in so-called communicable dis-eases, it must be understood that these measures are in no sense considered to be curative. If subluxations were adjusted as soon as produced there would be no occasion for such considerations, for man would remain immune and there would be no communicable dis-eases. Since subluxations are not always adjusted as soon as produced, but remain and become chronic and dis-ease is allowed to gather great momentum before adjustments are given, it becomes necessary to bring about an adaptation educationally to the incoördination. During the course of the dis-ease certain hygienic measures should be used in order to maintain a proper environmental condition.
