An old blanket and a small one will be found invaluable for all sorts of things--for example, to spread over the shoulders and chest when the bandage is being pinned; to warm and wrap up the feet and legs, if they show any signs of being cold; to cover one knee and part of the body when using the irrigator, which when there has been _any_ laceration, is a delicate piece of business, as every nurse knows. Always fold up this invaluable and constant friend, and put it in some handy but inconspicuous place; it _is_ a friend, and a good one; but it is not a beautiful object to look upon, and others not knowing its virtues would think you untidy if it was in a noticeable place. The fountain syringe is absolutely indispensable; and, though it may seem unnecessarily large, yet I think a four-quart bag better than any of the smaller sizes. To be sure, you never might need four quarts in the bag, but it is so much easier managed, so much less liable to spill over, if you have a large bag and put it only half or three-quarters full. Then, too, you get so much more force if you have more water in the bag, you need not use it all. A Davidson syringe is very nice for some things that a fountain syringe could not be used for. Oil enemas, for instance, also nutritive enemas. After an oil enema be sure to wash your syringe _thoroughly_ with a strong solution of washing soda or ammonia, else you will find the rubber of the bulb and tubing becoming pasty, and your syringe will be utterly spoiled. The paper basin is very light and easily handled and much to be preferred to a large china affair, which may easily slide from warm, wet, slippery hands. I often wonder that the women of our day, who are so sensible in many things, should have abandoned the fashion of short night gowns, which our grandmothers always provided for themselves at these times. I remember asking one lady, when talking over what she would need for her first baby, and for herself, at the time of its birth, if she had not something short and plain that she could wear. She looked very thoughtful for a moment and then said that she thought she did have _one_ night-dress that did not have a ruffle or embroidery around the bottom. She could wear that. It certainly is not from motives of economy that our wealthy patients do not have these most sensible of garments. I think they know nothing about them, and they should have their virtues explained to them. A pocket could be added to this garment, I think, and it would be a real comfort to a woman. I know it would be to a nurse, who usually has to hunt up the ever missing pocket handkerchief a dozen times a day. Men always have pockets in their night-shirts, and they are not sick half as much as the women. I wonder why women do not imitate this most sensible custom. If your patient will not let you cut off any of her old night-dresses, you must use the long ones, of course, and change them as often as necessary.