MEANS OF PRESERVING THE HEALTH.[23]
[23] It is advised, that a thorough review of the hygiene of the
preceding chapters be given from the suggestions contained in
this.
979. Our bodies are constituted in harmony with certain laws, and
every person should learn these, in order to regulate his actions and
the performance of his duties, so that health may be unimpaired, and
the power of enjoyment, activity, and usefulness continue while life
lasts.
980. It is a law of the bones and the muscles, that they should either
be used in some vocation, or called into action by some social play
and active sport.
981. All admit that food is necessary to sustain life; and unless it
be of a proper quality, taken in proper quantities, and at proper
times, the functions of the digestive organs will be deranged, and
disease produced.
982. Pure air is essential to the full enjoyment of health. The impure
air of unventilated rooms may be breathed, and the effect be so
gradual as not to arrest attention; yet it is a violation of the
physical laws, and, sooner or later, we pay the penalty in disease and
suffering.
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979. Why is it incumbent on every person to learn the laws of health?
980. Give a law of the muscles. 981. In preserving the health, is it
necessary to give attention to the food which is eaten? Why? 982. What
beside food is essential to the full enjoyment of health? What is said
of the impure air of unventilated rooms? 983. What should be observed
in regard to sleep?
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983. The body also requires sleep; and if it is not taken at the right
time, or with regularity, we do not feel full refreshment from "tired
nature's sweet restorer." Let youth be taught that "early to bed and
early to rise" gives him health and its attendant blessings. The
brain, like other organs of the body, should be called into action at
proper times.
984. From the extent of the surface of the skin, and the close
sympathy that exists between it and those organs whose office is, to
remove the waste particles of matter from the body, it therefore
becomes very important in the preservation of the health, that the
functions of this membrane be properly maintained.
985. The function of the circulatory and secretory organs, together
with the operations of absorption and nutrition, should be steadily
maintained, as vitality and the generation of animal heat are
intimately connected with these processes. In the proper performance
of these functions, very much depends on the observance of the laws
of the muscular, digestive respiratory, dermoid, and nervous
apparatuses.
REMOVAL OF DISEASE.
986. It is seldom that a physician is called in the first stages of
disease. At this important period, the treatment adopted should be
proper and judicious, or the sufferings of the patient are increased,
and life, to a greater or less degree, is jeopardized. Hence the
utility of knowing what _should be done_, and what _should not be
done_, in order that the health may be rapidly regained.
987. In all instances of acute disease, it is proper to rest, not only
the body, but the mind. To effect this, the patient should cease from
physical exertion, and also withdraw his thoughts from study and
business operations. This should be done, even if the person is but
slightly indisposed.
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984. Why should the functions of the skin be properly maintained? 985.
Show the necessity of maintaining properly other functions of the
system. 986. What is important in the first stages of disease? 987.
What is proper in all instances of acute disease? How can it be
effected?
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988. Select a room for a sick person that is exposed to as little
external noise as possible, as impressions made on the organ of
hearing greatly influence the nervous system. Likewise select a
spacious, well-ventilated apartment, that has no superfluous
furniture. The practice of placing a sick person in a small,
ill-arranged sleeping-room, when a more spacious room can be used, is
poor economy, not to say unkind.
989. Care is necessary in regulating the light of a sick-room. While a
strong light would produce an increased action of the vessels of the
brain, a moderate light would be an appropriate stimulus to this
organ. It is seldom or never necessary to exclude all light from the
sick-chamber.
990. A sick person, whether a child or an adult, should not be
disturbed by visitors, even if their calls are short. The excitement
of meeting them is followed by a depression of the nervous system. The
more dangerous and apparently nearer death the sick person is, the
more rigorous should be the observance of this suggestion. Nor should
the sick-room be opened to privileged classes; for the excitement
caused by a visit from relations and the virtuous, will do as much
injury to the sick, as that produced by strangers and the vicious.
991. The custom of visiting and conversing with sick friends during
the intervals of daily labor, and particularly on _Sunday_, is a great
evil. No person will thus intrude herself in the sick-chamber who
cares more for the welfare of the suffering friend than for the
gratification of a _sympathetic curiosity_. Inquiries can be made of
the family respecting the sick, and complimentary or necessary
messages can be communicated through the nurse.
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988. What rooms should be selected for the sick? Why? 989. What is
said in reference to the quantity of light admitted into a sick-room?
990. What effect have calls on the sick? 991. What is said of the
custom of calling and conversing with the sick during the intervals of
daily labor?
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_Illustration._ While attending a Miss B., of N. H., sick of fever, I
pronounced her better, withdrew medicine, directed a simple, low diet,
and the exclusion of all visitors. In the evening I was sent for to
attend her. There was a violent relapse into the disease, which
continued to increase in severity until the fourth day, when death
terminated her sufferings. I learned that, soon after I gave
directions that no visitors be admitted into her room, several
_particular_ friends were permitted to enter the chamber and talk with
the sick girl. Their conversation produced a severe headache; and, to
use the language of the patient, "it seemed as if their talk would
kill me;" and _it did kill her_.
992. No _solid food_ should be taken in the first stages of disease,
even if the affection is slight. The thirst can be allayed by drinking
cold water, barley-water, and other preparations of an unstimulating
character. It is wrong to tempt the appetite of a person who is
indisposed. The cessation of a desire for food, is the warning of
nature, that the system is in such a state that it cannot be
digested.
993. When a patient is recovering from illness, the food should be
simple, and in quantities not so great as to oppress the stomach. It
should also be given with regularity. "Eat little and often," with no
regard to regularity, is a pernicious practice.
994. When a physician attends a sick person, he should have the
_special_ management of the food, particularly after the medicine has
been withdrawn and the patient is convalescent. The prevailing idea
that _every_ person may safely advise relative to food, or that the
appetite of the convalescing person is a competent guide, is
dangerous; and cannot be too much censured.
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Give an illustration. 992. What suggestion relative to food in the
first stages of disease? How can the thirst be allayed? 993. When the
patient is convalescent, how should the food be given? What is said of
the practice of eating "little and often"? 994. Who should have the
special management of food when medicine is withdrawn? What idea
prevails in the community?
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_Illustration._ In 1832, I attended a Miss M., sick of fever. After an
illness of a few days, the fever abated, and I directed a simple,
unstimulating diet. Business called me from the town two days. During
my absence, a sympathizing, officious matron called; found her weak,
but improving; and told her she needed food to strengthen her; and
that "it would now do her good." Accordingly, eggs and a piece of
beefsteak were prepared, and given to the convalescent girl. She ate
heartily, and the result was a relapse into a fever more violent than
the first attack.
995. It is very important in disease that _the skin be kept clean_. A
free action of the vessels of this part of the body exerts a great
influence in removing disease from the internal organs, as well as
keeping them in health. If the twenty or thirty ounces of waste,
hurtful matter, that passes through the "pores" of the skin in
twenty-four hours, are not removed by frequent bathing and dry
rubbing, it deranges the action of the vessels that separate this
waste matter from the blood, and thus increases the disease of the
internal organs.
_Illustration._ Mrs. M. R., of N., Mass., was afflicted with disease
of the lungs and cough. This was accompanied with a dry, inactive
condition of the skin. As medicine had no salutary effect in relieving
her cough, she was induced by the advice of the clergyman of the
parish to enter upon a systematic course of bathing twice every day.
Soon the skin became soft, its proper functions were restored, the
disease of the lungs yielded, and the cough disappeared.
996. Every sick person should breathe _pure air_. The purer the blood
that courses through the body, the greater the energy of the system
to remove disease. The confined vitiated air of the sick-chamber, not
unfrequently prolongs disease; and in many instances, the affection is
not only aggravated, but, even rendered fatal, by its injurious
influences.
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Give an illustration of the evil effects attending such an idea. 995.
Does the skin exert a great influence in removing disease from the
internal organs, as well as in keeping them in health? Give an
illustration 996. Why should every sick person, particularly, breathe
pure air?
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_Illustrations._ 1st. In 1833, I was called, in consultation with
another physician, to Mr. H., who was much debilitated, and delirious.
For several successive days he had not slept. His room was kept very
warm and close, for fear he would "take cold." The only change that I
made in the treatment, was to open the door and window, at a distance
from the bed. In a short time, the delirium ceased, and he fell into a
quiet slumber. From this time he rapidly recovered, and the delirium
was probably the result of breathing impure air.
2d. Formerly, every precaution was used to prevent persons sick of the
small-pox from breathing fresh air. When Mrs. Ramsay had this disease
in Charleston, S.C., her friends, supposing that life was extinct,
caused her body to be removed from the house to an open shed. The pure
air revived the vital spark. The result probably would have been
different, had she been kept a few hours longer in the vitiated air.
997. The influence of habit should not be disregarded in the removal
of disease. If food or drink is to be administered, however small in
quantity or simple its quality, it should be given at or about the
time when the ordinary meals were taken in health.
998. Again, the usual time when the patient was in the habit of
retiring for sleep should be observed, and all preparation necessary
for the sick-room during the night should be made previous to this
hour. Efforts should also be made to evacuate the waste matter of the
digestive and urinary organs at the period which habit has formed in
health. This is not only a remedial agent in disease, but often
precludes the necessity of laxative or drastic cathartics.
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Are not diseases prolonged, and even rendered fatal, from breathing
the impure, vitiated air of the sick-chamber? Give illustration 1st.
Give illustration 2d. 997. What is said respecting the influence of
habit in removing disease?
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999. MEDICINE is sometimes necessary to _assist_ the natural powers of
the system to remove disease; but it is only an _assistant_. While
emetics are occasionally useful in removing food and other articles
from the stomach that would cause disease if suffered to remain, and
cathartics are valuable, in some instances, to relieve the alimentary
canal of irritating residuum, yet the frequent administration of
either will cause serious disease.
1000. Although medicine is useful in some instances, yet, in a great
proportion of the cases of disease, including fevers and inflammations
of all kinds, attention to the laws of health will tend to relieve the
system from disease; more certainly and speedily, and with less
danger, than when medicines are administered.
1001. Thomas Jefferson, in writing to Dr. Wistar, of Philadelphia,
said, "I would have the physician learn the limit of his art." I would
say, Have the matrons, and those who are continually advising "herb
teas," and other "cure-alls," for any complaint, labelled with some
popular name, learn the limits of their duty, namely, attention to the
laws of health. The rule of every family, and each individual, should
be, to touch not, taste not of medicine of _any kind_, except when
directed by a well-educated and honest physician, (sudden disease from
accidents excepted.)
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999. What is said of the use of medicine? 1000. Of its use in fevers
and many other cases of disease? 1001. What remark by Thomas Jefferson
to Dr. Wistar? What should matrons learn? What should be the rule of
every person in regard to taking medicine? What exception?
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