The arrangements of the sick-room require attention, and demand special notice. They influence very much the result, and may indeed, where faulty, baffle the efforts of medicine. We would lay down the following brief rules: -

1. Fresh Air

Secure a free and full change of air without chilling the patient. According to the state of the weather have the door or window or both open. In the summer time the upper part of the window of a sick-room should always be opened; in cold weather a fire burning acts as a suction-pump to draw off the vitiated air of the room, at the same time that it diffuses sufficient warmth. To secure purity of air, as well as the quiet so necessary for a sick-room, no more persons than are required should be in the room. A crowd of people leads to gossiping and often exciting talk.

2. The Temperature Of A Sick-Room

The temperature of a sick-room should, if possible, be maintained as near to 6o° as possible. In the winter season, unless great care be taken, it will easily fall below this. At other times of the year it is more readily overheated.

In some affections of the respiratory organs there is great advantage in cold weather in keeping the air of the room warm and moist by the steam from the spout of a kettle. If a piece of tin or lead pipe be attached to the spout, the steam can be brought further into the room. This plan has the additional advantage of securing a tolerably equable temperature in the room - an important point in the treatment of croup and other inflammatory affections of the chest.

3. Light

The light should be so adjusted as to be moderated according to the sensibility of the patient. Some persons when ill like a dark room. This is more particularly the case when the head is at all affected. In delirium a darkened chamber has often a very soothing effect.

The bed should not be so placed that the strong direct light falls upon the face of the patient.

During convalescence, the bright and cheerful light of the sun exerts a beneficial restorative influence.

4. Cleanliness

A well-known proverb expresses the importance of cleanliness; and if the proverb apply anywhere, it applies still more forcibly in the sick-room.

A common error is that in eruptive fevers the clothes should not be changed for fear of exposure of the surface of the body to a chill. Nothing can be more mistaken; the body-linen should not only be changed daily, but the bed-linen would also be changed with advantage at least every two or three days, and removed from the room as quickly as possible. The body should also be washed daily. Children suffering from scarlet fever, measles, or typhoid, derive comfort and benefit from their bodies being sponged all over daily with warm vinegar and water.

The washing of utensils, and cleansing operations generally, should be carried on as much as possible out of the sick-room, in order to avoid the noise and bustle consequent thereon.

All unnecessary articles of furniture are better out of the room.