The Four Epochs of Woman's Life; A Study in HygieneGalbraith, Anna M. (Anna Mary)
Science
The Four Epochs of Woman's Life; A Study in Hygiene
Galbraith, Anna M. (Anna Mary)
Women -- Health and hygiene
The dress of the mother during the lying-in consists of a merino
undervest, with high neck and long sleeves, and a nightgown, which
shall be open all the way down the front. The gowns should be made of
light muslin or of cambric; and there should be a sufficient number so
that they may be changed every day.
Six abdominal bandages should be provided. These are made of light
muslin, and they should be eighteen inches wide and long enough to go
once and a third around the patient's hips at the sixth month of
pregnancy, or about one yard and a quarter long; they may be made
straight or to fit the patient at the sixth month. This bandage is
fastened down the front; it is applied directly after the labor, and
adds greatly to the patient's comfort during the lying-in.
The vulvar pads used during the lying-in are the antiseptic absorbent
pads which can be obtained at any place where surgical dressings are
sold; they are made of absorbent cotton, covered with cheesecloth, and
sterilized.
There must be a sufficiently generous supply of sheets so that they
can be changed every day, and the drawsheet as often as may be
required. Nothing is so important to a good lying-in as to have a
clean, well-ventilated room, and plenty of fresh bed-linen.
Cleanliness is the first requisite to antisepsis, and this is the
secret of avoiding puerperal fever.
Articles to be provided for the confinement are:
1. An oblong douche-pan of agate-ware.
2. An agate bed-pan.
3. A bath thermometer.
4. Two pieces of rubber sheeting; one, one yard square, and the other
two yards square.
5. Two sterilized bed-pads, 30 inches square by 3 to 4 inches thick.
6. Three dozen antiseptic absorbent pads.
7. One pound of sterilized absorbent cotton; twelve yards of
cheese-cloth.
8. Six abdominal bandages, eighteen inches wide, preferably made to
fit the figure at the sixth month of gestation.
9. Two hand-scrubs.
10. Four ounces of the tincture of green soap.
11. Bottle of corrosive sublimate tablets.
12. Four ounces of powdered boric acid.
13. Half a pint of good whisky.
14. Two ounces of aromatic spirits of ammonia.
15. Two ounces of aqua ammonia.
16. One pint of alcohol.
17. Two tubes sterilized white vaselin.
18. Plenty of large and small safety-pins.
19. Hot-water bag.
20. New fountain syringe, to hold four quarts; with glass nozle.
21. One small basin for vomited matter.
22. Two very large agate basins or wash-bowls for washing doctor's
hands and for antiseptic solutions.
23. Vessel for after-birth.
24. Three large pitchers; one for boiling water, one for cold boiled
water, and one for antiseptic solution.
25. Tumbler for boric acid solution for washing baby's eyes, with fine
old linen sterilized.
26. One dozen freshly laundered sheets, and two dozen towels.
27. Stocking-drawers, muslin.
28. Change of night-clothing warmed for the mother.
29. A warm blanket to receive the baby.
30. An infant bath-tub.
31.
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