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Apothecaries' Measure: Proportionate

Proportion.

Proportionate Dose.

Age.

Proportion.

Proportionate Dose. 7 weeks. 7 months... one-fifteenth or grains 4 Under 14 years one-half or drachm.../2 one-twelfth.. or grains 66 “ ... 5 20 two-fifths. or scruples.. 2 Under 2 years one-eighth. or grains

7½ above 21 ،، the full dose... or drachm... I ،، ،، 3 one-sixth or grains ،، IO .. 65 ،، eleven-twelfths or grains....55 ،، ،، 4 one-fourth .. or grains ،، ،، 15 70 five-sixths. or grains....50 ،، ،، 5 one-third. or scruple... I ،، 85 ،، two-thirds or grains....40

The above rules hold good in all medicines, except castor oil, the proportion of which cannot be reduced so much, and opium, and its various preparations, which must be reduced, generally, in a little greater proportion.

Accidents.-General Rules.-1. The first thing to be done in all cases is to send for a physician. While the messenger is gone, endeavor to make the patient as comfortable as possible, and save him from all exertion, remembering that he needs all his strength.

2. If there be any severe bleeding, stanch the blood by means of compresses applied to the veins or arteries, as the case may be.

3. If the patient be insensible, place him on the ground or floor, lying rather over to or directly on one side, and with the head slightly raised. Remove necktie, collar, etc., and unbutton or split open any clothing pressing tightly upon the neck, chest, or abdomen.

4. As a restorative, sprinkle the face with cold water, and then wipe it dry. Some cold water may be given to drink, if the power of swallowing be present, but do not pour stimulants down the throat, unless there be clear evidence that they are needed.

5. Do not move the patient, unless to get him to a place of shelter, and when he has reached it, make him lie down and seek quiet.

6. Allow no useless talking, either to the patient or in his presence.

7. Cause the bystanders to move back and leave a clear space of at least ten feet in every direction around the patient. Stimulants should be avoided, except in cases urgently demanding their administration, but they are agents of much value in the treatment of that condition of collapse and faintness which very commonly occurs after some physical injuries. The symptoms may be briefly sketched: the face is pale and bedewed with cold or clammy perspiration; the surface of the body generally cold; the pulse flickering, perhaps hardly perceptible; the patient complains of the feeling of faintness, and may have nausea, or even natural sickness; the breathing is sighing and irregular, and for a time there may be actual insensibility. Now under such conditions there can be no question as to the propriety of inducing reaction by the administration of stimulants. Coffee given hot and strong, and in small quantities, is a safe and useful remedy. Spirituous liquors are more potent in their effects, and the good effect is produced more speedily. Brandy is the best spirit, given in more or less diluted form; failing this, rum or wine may be given. If the spirits can be obtained only from some low saloon, then whiskey is to be preferred to brandy or wine, as being less liable to adulteration. In administering these articles the best practical rule is to give a small quantity at first and watch the effect; if the surface becomes warmer, the breathing deeper and more regular, and the pulse at the wrist more perceptible, than there can be no question as to the advantage of giving even a little more; but if these signs of improvement are wanting-if there be increase of insensibility, and deepening of color about the face, with access of heat of skin-withhold alcohol entirely; it will but add to the mischief.

Rules to be followed by the Bystanders in Case of Injury by Machinery, etc., where Surgical Assistance cannot be obtained. If the patient is not bleeding, do not bind the limb tight, but cover the bruised part lightly with rags. If bleeding results, do not try to stop it by binding up the wound, but find the artery by its beating, and place a firm and smooth wad made of cloth or rags rolled up, or any round smooth article of proper size, wrapped up and place over the artery, tie a handkerchief around the limb and tighten up; put a stick through under the handkerchief, giving it just enough of twist to stop the bleeding, then enter one end of the stick under the handkerchief to secure the bind. When the leg is bleeding below the knee, apply the pad over the artery at the back of the thigh, and secure in front. The artery in the thigh runs along the inner side of the muscle in front near the bone. A little above the knee it passes to the back of the bone. In injuries at or above the knee, apply the compress high up on the inner side of the thigh, with the knot on the outer side of the thigh. The artery in the arm runs down the inner side of the large muscle in front, quite close to the bone; low down it gets further forward towards the bend of the elbow. It is most easily found and compressed a little above the middle. Examine the limb from time to time, and relax the compression if it becomes very cold or purple, but tighten the handkerchief again in case of bleeding. To transport an injured person, make a soft bed for the injured part, of straw, folded coverlets, etc., laid on a board, with side-pieces of board nailed on, when this can be done. If possible let the patient be laid on a door, shutter, settee, or other firm support comfortable covered, and carry him steadily, taking care if there are two or more carriers not to keep steps.

The Sick-Room. If you are so fortunate to as to have a choice of rooms, do not put your patient into one which is dark and gloomy, but let it be light and cheerful, and with a fireplace if possible. If the illness be fever, something wrong with the eyes or brain, or other sickness requiring quiet, a back room away from the family will answer best; the patient will not care to look at anything or to speak much, and quiet is necessary. But if he be suffering from an accident, let him be near the rest of the family where you can speak to him. This will help to keep him contented and cheerful, and it will save time in waiting upon him. Avoid a room which is exposed to disagreeable effluvia from any source. Never have the window so fastened that you cannot open it, especially from the top. Be careful not to have much furniture in the room, particularly if the disease be infectious. Woolen articles hold smells much longer than cotton or linen, therefore do not have woolen curtains. It is better to have no curtains at all, but if the room looks bare and cheerless use light muslin, or something which will easily wash. Have no woolen-covered sofa or chairs; cane-bottomed or plain wood are preferable, and a clean boarded floor, kept sweet by scrubbing, is infinitely better without any carpet, excepting, perhaps, a narrow strip for you to walk upon just to prevent noise. In case of accident, the bed may be placed where the patient feels most comfortable, only it should be where there is a good light to see and dress the wound; but in fever and small-pox let it be between the door and the fireplace. The reason for this is that as the fire cannot burn without air there must be a draught to feed it, and as this becomes heated and rushes up the chimney, it is replaced by a fresh supply drawn in through the door and window. In this way the chimney acts as a ventilating shaft, carrying away the impurities of the room, and so helps to prevent the disease spreading. It is clear, therefore, that if a person stands between the bed and the fireplace, he must get the air after it has been contaminated by passing over the patient; whereas, on the other side-that is, between the bed and the door-he breathes the air pure. If from the form of the room the bed cannot be placed in this position, let there always be sufficient space left between the window and the bed to stand in. If the room has not been used for some time, do not put the patient into it until you have lit the fire and seen if the chimney draws well. A smoky chimny may often be cured by holding a lighted newspaper a little way up the flue. This warms the air and causes it to ascend. As to the bed itself. The best is a hair mattress, but unless you are obliged, do not use one made of feathers. It is a disadvantage to have the bed too wide. If the patient be lying in the middle and needs help, the nurse is obliged to lift either kneeling on the bed or at arm's length, a position which takes away all her strength and causes a very painful strain on the muscles. If you are obliged to use a wide bed, a good plan is to make a division down the middle with a board a few inches high covered with the under bedclothes. This not only prevents the invalid slipping away from you, but answers the purpose in some degree of two beds. When you want to change the bedclothes, and the patient cannot get up, proceed in this way: roll up the clothes to be changed tightly to the middle, lengthwise, not across the bed; put on the clean things with half the width rolled up close to the other roll, lift the patient on to the newly made part, slip off the clothes he has just been lifted from, and unroll the clean ones. If you have time before you put the patient to bed, scour the floor right well, and wash it with hot water, with a few cents worth of chloride of lime mixed with it, or if you cannot get this, use a good-sized piece of quicklime, and rub well into the cracks and corners. Do not be anxious to remove the whole of the lime. Leave a little sticking in the crevices and pores of the wood, it will prevent insects, give a clean sweet smell to the place, and help to keep away infection. Now dry it thoroughly, and the room is ready.

Nurses and Nursing. - It is a great error to suppose that only women can nurse. There are men who are quite as gentle in their touch, quite as thoughtful about little wants, and far more considerate than almost any woman. A man's strength is a great advantage. It is a dreadful feeling for a patient not to have perfect confidence in the power of the person assisting: the dread of being let fall may give a fright which it will take days to recover from. Now there are five quali-- fications which are required in a nurse-Sobriety, Cleanliness, Firmness, Gentleness, and Patience.

Sobriety. All on this point necessary to say is, if unfortunately you cannot resist temptation, do not come near the sick-room.