How to Care for the Insane: A Manual for NursesGranger, William D.
Science
How to Care for the Insane: A Manual for Nurses
Granger, William D.
Psychiatric nursing
As the breathing begins, it should be still aided by the artificial means
as long as necessary. When the patient can swallow, teaspoonful doses of
brandy or whiskey, to two or three of water, may be given and repeated
several times. As soon as possible the patient should be put in a warm
bed, and milk and light food given.
_Care of Patients when First Burned._--When a patient's clothing is first
on fire, dash water over him if near at hand, if not wrap him in a blanket
or some heavy woollen garment, and smother the fire. Then unroll the
patient and extinguish the smouldering pieces of clothing. The clothing
must be cut and clipped off. Great care must be taken not to tear open the
blisters. If any application is made, it may be by linen cloths soaked in
sweet or castor oil, or equal parts of linseed oil and lime-water, or a
layer of flour and molasses may be applied over the burned surface. These
bland substances act largely by excluding the air, which, if blowing ever
so quietly, is always painful and irritating, and they also protect the
wound from the irritation of the bed and body clothing. Burns from
scalding are practically treated in the same way as burns from fire.
_Care of Frost-bites._--Toes, fingers, ears, and noses are most frequently
frozen. They will sometimes freeze in a few minutes on a very cold day.
After a part is frozen there is no feeling of cold or pain, and it looks
perfectly white, and is so stiff it may be broken.
Persons who are frost-bitten should not be taken into a warm room. They
should be left in a cool room, and the frozen part rubbed with cold water,
or ice, or snow. As these last melt they melt the frozen flesh. If the
parts are thawed too quickly gangrene is liable to follow.
_Care of Patients in States of Unconsciousness._--This is not an accident,
but a frequent emergency. The medical word for unconsciousness is _coma_.
It may be partial or complete, may come on suddenly or slowly, or may be
accompanied by convulsions or paralysis. The more frequent causes of coma,
are epilepsy, the convulsions of paresis, blows on the head, hemorrhage in
the brain or apoplexy, some diseases of the brain, sunstroke, and some
poisons.
When coma comes on, attendants should observe, if it is slow or sudden; if
the patient complains of pain in the head; if the respirations are
changed, and how; the condition of the pupils, whether large, contracted,
uneven, or changeable; if the mouth and face are drawn to one side; if
there is any paralysis of the arms or legs; if there are any convulsions,
or twitching of muscles; if the patient can be aroused, and from time to
time observe and count the pulse.
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