bite may be encouraged by bathing the part with warm water or applying a poultice. Cold iced water, combined with pressure either digital or applied by means of a pad and bandage, will usually arrest hæmorrhage after a leech bite. Should all the ordinary means fail to stop the bleeding, a surgeon must be sent for.

Wet cupping is the local abstraction of blood by means of small glasses made for the purpose, and a scarificator.

This operation is usually performed by a surgeon. Dry cupping may be carried out by a nurse after a little instruction.

First sponge the patient's skin with hot water, and rub dry. The air in the cupping glasses must now be exhausted by the aid of a spirit lamp, then place them quickly on to the patient. After a certain quantity of blood has been drawn in this way to the surface, detach the glasses by pressing the skin round the sides with the thumb and so admitting air, they will then drop off without hurting the patient.

Ice to Head.-Cold applications, such as ice, to the head are best applied by bladders or india-rubber bags, tied on to a net which accurately fits the scalp. If this net cannot be obtained quickly, the bladder or waterproof bag containing the ice may be laid on the scalp, and kept in its place by a bandage tied to the bedstead, or tacked to the pillow-case. In severe disease of, or injury to brain, the surgeon will probably

order the head to be shaved. Ice is stored and kept from melting by being wrapped up in flannel, and well drained; never allow it to be surrounded by water.

Drops for the Eye are best applied by means of a camel's hair brush. Shake the bottle, dip the brush into a little of the lotion poured out into a porringer, pull down the patient's lower lid, ask him to look upwards, then gently slide the drop just over the edge of the lid into the outer corner of the eye. Some people

try to introduce drops into the eye out of a quill, but this is a rather difficult and dangerous operation.

In dressing cases of severe ophthalmia, where there is a creamy discharge, the nurse must be careful not to get any of this discharge into her own eyes, as it

*The force of the jet can be regulated to a nicety by raising or lowering the tumbler. The rose douche A may be used for the eye. The nose douche B for applying antiseptic or hoemostatic solutions, and douche C for applications to the ear.

is very contagious. In these cases the eyes may require to be bathed every hour. An ordinary syringe is not permissible, for the force of the jet cannot be regulated. A syphon douche (as suggested by the author, vide woodcut, p. 55) is the best instrument for these cases, as the water flows out in a continuous stream. The towels used must be kept perfectly separate. It is a good plan to dry the eyes with a pellet of cotton wool, which can be burnt after each dressing.

Before commencing to bathe an infant's eyes, protect the bed with a piece of mackintosh sheeting; wrap the child's body including its arms in a blanket, and get an assistant to hold the head on one side.

The application of Strapping requires a little practice. First take care to cut the strapping the long, not the cross way. The patient's skin must be wiped dry. Now warm a strip of strapping by applying its back to a smooth can or jug of hot water. In the case of a wound, apply one end of the strapping on the skin furthest from the operator, make a little traction, place the cut sides of the wound in apposition and draw the plaster over to the other side. When it is required to redress the wound, care must be taken not to separate its edges; remove the strapping from both ends up as far as the wound, then hold the edges together with the finger and thumb whilst taking the plaster away finally. The healthy skin can be easily cleansed by rubbing it with a piece of lint dipped in spirits of turpentine.

CHAPTER V.

The nursing of children-Sore heads, and injuries to scalp-Bed-soresDelirium-Infection and disinfection.

Nursing children requires even more care than that of adults, especially in the case of babies who are unable to express their feelings in words.

To nurse children and babies properly, a woman must be naturally fond of little ones, she will then the more readily pick up their language full of expression and meaning. Much can be learned by carefully observing the cries of a young child. A long, loud and passionate cry, followed by a profusion of tears, accompanied with drawing up of the legs, denotes stomach-ache. In diseases affecting the brain or its membranes the child often wakes with a piercing shriek, and the after cries are sharp and shrill. A low cry, sometimes checked before half finished, unaccompanied by tears though the child is evidently distressed, points to affections of the chest. Moans and halfstifled sobs, with an anxious expression of face, are noticeable in serious troubles of the throat and airpassages. There are various symptoms which must be watched for in the early stages of disease. The

first thing which attracts attention is probably that the child is fretful, amused with difficulty, and is unusually drowsy. The baby may be hot or chilly, food is refused, or if the little one takes any nourishment, vomiting succeeds this act.

Now watch carefully the position the child assumes, whether it is most comfortable lying flat or propped up in bed, and on which side it prefers to sleep. Be ready to describe exactly how the child sleeps, whether restless or otherwise, observe the respiratory movements, if hurried and accompanied by harsh sounds.

When the child coughs notice the character of the cough, loud or hacking, and note whether the cough distresses or simply disturbs the child. Carefully watch the expression of face both when awake and asleep, state if pale, flushed, pinched, anxious, or drawn, and observe whether the child is unusually sensitive to light or noise. Look out for rashes, and remember that it is important to know on what part of the face or body they first show themselves, and how soon after commencement of illness.

It is a good plan to give a child a warm bath, at a temperature of 98°, keeping it in not longer than five minutes at the onset of an illness, as the nurse has then an opportunity of examining the whole body, and the bath will help to throw out any rash about to appear. Avoid unnecessary exposure, and wrap the child in a blanket whilst you are wiping its