in nursing fevers, or short surgical cases. Nurses who have
chronic cases need none of these rules. They fall into a routine,
and if they are detained in the family for any length of time,
that shows that their work and methods are right, as far as that
patient and family are concerned. But let them be careful when at
last they leave the case, and go amongst strangers. The ways of
one family are not the ways of another, and they must exercise
much discretion to accommodate themselves to the new environment.




V

GENERAL REMARKS ON FOODS AND FEEDING


Always have all food presented to an invalid as tempting as
possible. Use pretty china and glass, if you are permitted to do
so, yet not the very finest the house affords; that might make the
patient nervous lest some evil befall it. Absolutely clean napkins
and tray cloths, a few green leaves about the plate, a rose on the
tray; the chop or piece of chicken, the bird or the piece of steak
ornamented with sprigs of parsley, the cold things really cold,
and the hot ones _hot_, these are necessities of invalid's
feeding, that mark the nurse who has a proper appreciation of a
sick person's delicate sensibilities. Have all plates, cups and
saucers _hot_, when they are for the reception of hot toast,
coffee, tea, etc. Hot water plates are very convenient, and easily
procured at any large china shop; but if they cannot be found, put