Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1877 edition. Excerpt: ... You cannot be too careful as nurses in the precautions you use against conveying any of these diseases from your patients to the outer world. This often requires some self-denial, but I am sure, with very little reflection, you will acknowledge that no social pleasure is worth the remorse which having been the means of occasioning suffering, and perhaps death, would cause you. Whilst you are nursing fever cases, you must forego the pleasure of much communication with your friends, and on leaving the wards reserved for contagious diseases, you must be very careful to subject not only your dress, but all articles you may have used, such as books, papers, etc., and even your hair, to a thorough process of purification. CHAPTER XIX. THE INFLAMMATORY PROCESS. In order that you may be able to nurse surgical cases intelligently you must in the first place have some idea of what is meant by inflammation. Inflammation may be produced by a variety of causes, for example, a thorn in the finger, continued pressure on the hand, such as takes place in rowing for any length of time, or it may be occasioned by a severe blow, as you will often meet with in cases of railway accident. A certain amount of inflammation is necessary in every wound in order that it may heal; but this healthy inflammation may go on through stages which are no longer healthy. There are four signs of inflammation, viz., pain, redness, heat, and swelling, and there are also four stages of it. These are, first, effusion, in which serum (the watery part of the blood), or pus, exudes. Secondly, suppuration, or the formation of matter. Thirdly, ulceration, which is the destruction of tissue or molecular death. Fourthly, gangrene, or death of the whole part. It is quite possible for a...
