Cleanliness and Ventilation.
The bedding, the clothes of the patient, and the rooms must be kept absolutely sweet and clean. If it be impossible to sweep the room, all dust may be wiped from the floor with a dry cloth. If the room be carpeted,—which is a pity when one is sick,—brush it with a soft hair brush, and then wipe the carpet with a cloth wrung out of warm water. If possible, ventilate the room two or three times a day by having the wind sweep through it. Protect the patient by extra blankets, and then spread a sheet or blanket over the head board, letting it come down over the head and shoulders of the patient. One cannot realize what a restful tonic this pure air is for the patient.
Bathing.
Few things are more refreshing to a sick person than a sponge bath. It should be given morning and night. A little alcohol in the water is invigorating, and prevents the patient from taking cold. Have but little water in the sponge, and begin with the face and neck. Keep the body covered, and wash only a small part at one time. Wipe with a soft towel. At night the patient may be rubbed with alcohol, using the hand. This rubbing often insures a good night’s rest. Rubbing is beneficial at almost any time.
Turpentine Applications.
Refined turpentine is often very valuable in the sick-room. In cases of inflammation of the bowels, kidneys, or bladder, and of congestion of the lungs, a turpentine application often will relieve the most intense pain. Indeed, this remedy is good and safe for almost any pain that can be reached by external applications.
There are two ways of using the applications. When the turpentine is to remain on the patient for a long time, mix it with lard, and spread the mixture on flannel. Lay this on the seat of pain. It may be kept on for several hours. Use a tablespoonful of spirits of turpentine to half a pint of lard. If the pain be intense, two or three tablespoonfuls of turpentine may be used.
Another method is to wring flannel out of hot water, sprinkle the turpentine on this, and lay the flannel on the seat of pain. Cover with a dry flannel, and upon this lay a soft towel. Use a teaspoonful of turpentine for a surface about a foot square. In case of great pain even more turpentine may be required. Few patients can endure this hot application more than twenty minutes or half an hour. When the flannel is removed cover the inflamed part with a piece of soft linen.
If the pain come from gas in the stomach or bowels, put eight or ten drops of spirits of turpentine on a lump of sugar and let the patient eat this. Turpentine is very good to give in this way whenever there is bloating of the bowels from an accumulation of gas.