Transcriber’s Notes: Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_ in the original text. Equal signs “=” before and after a word or phrase indicate =bold= in the original text. Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals. Illustrations have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs. Antiquated spellings have been preserved. Typographical and punctuation errors have been silently corrected. The “ADDITIONAL NOTES” section, pages 211 to 226 have been removed as they serve no function in an ebook. A REFERENCE HAND-BOOK FOR NURSES BY AMANDA K. BECK, R. N. Graduate of the Illinois Training School for Nurses FOURTH EDITION, REVISED PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON W. B. SAUNDERS COMPANY 1919 Copyright, 1905, by W. B. Saunders and Company. Reprinted August, 1905, July, 1906, June, 1907, and January, 1908. Revised, reprinted, and recopyrighted August, 1908. Reprinted March, 1909, February, 1910, July, 1910, March, 1911, February, 1912, and August, 1912. Revised, reprinted, and recopyrighted February, 1913. Reprinted October, 1913, May, 1914, November, 1914, January, 1915, May, 1915, September, 1915, June, 1916, January, 1917, July, 1917, November, 1917, April, 1918, and August, 1918. Revised, reprinted, and recopyrighted March, 1919 Copyright, 1919, by W. B. Saunders Company PRINTED IN AMERICA PRESS OF W. B. SAUNDERS COMPANY PHILADELPHIA TO ISABEL McISAAC For many years Superintendent of the Illinois Training School for Nurses, of Chicago AND TO IDORA C. ROSE Formerly her Assistant and now her Successor THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION. In the present edition of this work a few new subjects have been added and the text has been somewhat altered in order that certain recent advances and changes might be noted and brought into daily service. I have not been unmindful, however, of the fact that to be of the greatest possible use to our profession this volume must remain small and compact. I hear frequently that this Handbook is valued by my fellow-workers and that it is to many of them a daily help and companion. This is a source of great pleasure to me, and I hope that this new edition will be found more useful even than any of its predecessors. A. K. BECK, R. N. CHICAGO, ILL., _March, 1919_. PREFACE.