1. Location.—The room should be on the sunny side of the house and be as large and airy as possible. The top floor is quieter, but necessitates many steps.
2. Furniture.—All furniture should admit of easy cleaning. Small rugs are better than a carpet, as they can be easily removed for cleaning. In infectious diseases, only bare necessities should be kept in the room.
The bed should be single and placed so as to be accessible from both sides. It should be high enough to prevent the nurse stooping. The bed-clothing should be of light weight and washable.
A bedside table should be provided, also a couch for the nurse. A screen will be found useful to prevent draughts and to shade the light.
3. Ventilation.—A thermometer should be used, and the temperature kept at 65 degrees to 68 degrees, or, in special diseases, according to the doctor's orders.
An abundant supply of fresh air should be provided day and night. To secure this, there must be two openings, one to admit pure, fresh air, and the other to let out the impure air. These openings are preferably on opposite sides of the room and at different heights. If there is only one window, it should be made to open at both top and bottom. In extreme cases, an adjoining room may be aired and, after the fresh air is warm, it may be admitted to the sick room.
4. Care.—The room should be kept very clean and neat. All cleaning should be quietly done, so as not to annoy or disturb the patient. The floor, wood-work, and furniture should be dusted with a damp cloth.
Flowers should be removed at night and should have fresh water daily.
No food or medicine should he left in the room. Soiled dishes or clothing should be removed as soon as possible and, in cases of infectious diseases, placed in water containing a disinfectant.
All excreta should be taken away immediately and, if necessary, disinfected before being emptied.
METHODS OF DISINFECTING
1. Dishes or clothing.—(1) Make a solution using one part of carbolic acid to twenty parts of water (six teaspoonfuls to a pint of water) and let it stand for half an hour. Soak the articles in this for two hours. (2) Use formalin according to directions. (3) Use bichloride tablets according to directions. (This turns clothes yellow.)
Note.—These solutions must be renewed every twenty-four hours, if exposed to the air.
2. Excreta.—Cover the excreta with one of the above solutions and allow it to stand for half an hour before emptying.