I remember a trained nurse who was deeply hurt at being told that a bell would be placed within her patient’s reach, in case he wanted anything at night. ‘Thank you, ma’am,’ was her reply; ‘my patient will not need to ring.’ Nor did he, thanks to his nurse’s constant care to anticipate his wants. A nurse thus watchful, will be quick to notice any change in her patient; but it is quite one thing to notice, and another to give a faithful report of what has been observed; and I would urge every inexperienced nurse to be very particular in jotting down at once all that strikes her attention. The simplest way of doing this is to keep a sort of diary of all that happens. Take a piece of writing-paper, keep one side for day and one for night, write the date at the top, crease it down the middle, and note on one half, all the patient takes and does, and on the other, anything you think demands notice. The following is a specimen of the sort of chart I mean.

October 4.
A.M. A.M.
8.Cup of tea and toast.
10.Four ounces milk. 10.Milk taken with difficultyand dislike.
11.Medicine.
11.15.Poultice to chest andback.
11.30.Slept twenty minutes. 11.30.Turned on right sidebefore going to sleep.
12.Four ounces beef-tea.
12.30.Mrs A. called, stayedquarter of an hour.
12.45-1.30.Excited anddepressed by Mrs A.’s call.
Are visitors to be allowed?

The reverse side might read thus:

October 4.
P.M. P.M.
8.Four ounces milk.
9.Jacket poultice.
9.30.Dozed half-hour. 9.30.Skin hot and dry,face flushed; woke excited and restless.
10.Opiate as directed.
10.45.Slept two hours.
11.30.Began to perspire,expression tranquil; woke refreshed.
12.45.Four ounces milk.

To keep such a chart properly requires some practice, but it is the only way of insuring accuracy, and it will also save a good deal of questioning on the doctor’s part, a glance being enough to show him how matters stand.

At the bottom of the first page, it will be noticed there is a question, which, unless so marked, would very likely be forgotten; and whenever the nurse is in any difficulty or uncertainty, she must never hesitate to ask for guidance. The doctor will not expect perfection from inexperience, and even if he does not volunteer information, will certainly not object to answering reasonable questions. Of course, there is a great deal of difference in this as in all things, and there are doctors who take for granted that everybody knows certain things, of which even the intelligent, who have not had their attention called to nursing, may be quite ignorant. But even when this is the case, the nurse’s object being her patient’s good and not the support of her own dignity, if she is not sure of her ground, it is her duty to ask for instruction.

ONE WOMAN’S HISTORY.

CHAPTER VII.

A few minutes later, Madame De Vigne and her sister came slowly up the glen from that part of the valley where the wagonettes had been left behind. Presently Clarice paused and gazed around.

‘It looks exactly as it did that day last summer when we were here,’ she said. ‘We might have been away only a few hours.’