Handbook for the instruction of attendants on the insane / prepared by a Sub-committee of the Medico-Psychological Association appointed at a branch meeting held in Glasgow on the 21st February, 1884.

Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Handbook for the instruction of attendants on the insane / prepared by a Sub-committee of the Medico-Psychological Association appointed at a branch meeting held in Glasgow on the 21st February, 1884. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

    31/76 (page 23)
    medical sanction. The bed-clothes should be neatly arranged, and kept drawn up near the chin of the Patient, who should be discouraged from keeping his arms out, and chest bare, unless these are protected by a flannel jacket or other extra covering. Many of the insane are constantly throwing off the bed-clothes. These require to be as frequently replaced. A Patient lying half covered presents an appearance of neglect and slovenly manage- ment, besides being exposed to danger from risk of catching cold. Some margin may be allowed for the fancy of individual Patients as regards the quantity of bed-clothing, but, in no case, is he to be allowed to become cold, an extra amount of bed-clothing being frequently required to keep the bodies of feeble sick persons properly warm. Cold feet are dangerous in all cases, and often cause great restlessness and sleeplessness in old feeble persons. When the feet are found to be cold, and they should frequently be felt to ascertain this, a properly protected hot-water vessel should be at once applied. The undersheet is to be kept perfectly smooth and scrupu- lously free from crumbs, &c. Wrinkles in the sheet, and crumbs lying on it, give rise to great discomfort, and frequently cause troublesome bed sores. A piece of waterproof sheeting should be placed next the mattress of all wet and dirty cases, in order to keep it clean. These sheets require frequent washing, and the mattress should be at once removed, if it absorbs any discharge through the dis- ]ilacement of the waterproof sheet. As a rule, the sheets should be changed as often as they be- come wet or dirt}^, no matter how often this may occur. In some cases of paralysis or great weakness, the stools and urine are passed almost continuously, and the condition of the Patient renders the latigue to him of frequent changing undesirable. In such cases, the drawsheet is of great service. A drawsheet is a sheet folded several times lengthwise: one sheet, thus folded, is passed beneath the loins of the patient, and above the usual undersheet. As one portion becomes soiled, a fresh portion is drawn gently beneath the Patient, while the soiled portion is folded up at his side. One sheet may thus serve several occasions, but it should always be removed when it becomes so much soiled as to be offensive. Various forms of urinals are used to receive the urine of Patients passing it unconsciously. These should be kept constantly in