Caleb pressed Pansy’s hand in his own, and held it firmly for a few seconds. ‘I’m obliged to you,’ he said quietly, although huskily. ‘I wish you well.’ And with that he forced his way through the group of friends and disappeared. HOME-NURSING. BY A LADY. FOURTH ARTICLE. Having fully considered the choice and management of a sick-room, we now turn to those personal cares essential alike to the patient’s comfort and well-being. We have already spoken of the need of absolute cleanliness in the sick-room; and as regards the patient himself, it is hardly possible to overestimate the importance of scrupulous attention to every detail affecting the purity of his immediate surroundings. Not only should bed and body linen be kept fresh and clean, but everything that has become soiled in using must at once be removed from the room. It is a very common practice in home-nursing to make a collection of dirty things, to be carried downstairs when any one is going; in this way, I have known a room to be fouled for hours, the patient being considered whimsical for complaining of odours not perceptible to his nurse. Now, any such complaint should receive immediate attention, and a nurse should never rest satisfied till she has discovered and remedied the evil. It not seldom happens that the patient’s sensitive condition makes him extra quick to discern such warning of danger; and the nurse who really desires to do her duty, instead of taking offence, will gladly avail herself of the help thus given; for it must be borne in mind that as surely as smoke indicates fire, so surely does a bad smell indicate a foulness of air, which will never be remedied till the cause has been removed. Remembering this, it will be seen how foolish is the practice of drowning unpleasant odours by the indiscriminate use of disinfectants; these have their special value—their proper sphere we shall consider in dealing with infectious diseases; but in ordinary illness, they are apt to be used simply as a covering-up of evils which demand entire and immediate removal. As regards personal cleanliness, many people still retain the old-fashioned fear of washing, which used to condemn the patient to a state of dirt, equally uncomfortable and injurious. Of course, care and discrimination are needful, and if there is any doubt on the matter, it is better to ask the doctor’s opinion; but as a rule, daily washing of face, neck, and arms is possible in all cases fit for home-nursing; in addition, the legs and feet should be washed about every other day; and whenever practicable, a weekly bath should be given. For the daily wash, tepid water and a piece of flannel suit most patients best; but where cold sponging is a refreshment, it may be used, provided due care is taken to avoid a chill.