Both things are true; the patient is
often neglected, and the servants are often unfairly "put upon." But
the fault is generally in the want of management of the head in
charge. It is surely for her to arrange both that the nurse's place
is, when necessary, supplemented, and that the patient is never
neglected--things with a little management quite compatible, and
indeed only attainable together. It is certainly not for the nurse
to "order about" the servants.
IV. NOISE.
[Sidenote: Unnecessary noise.]
Unnecessary noise, or noise that creates an expectation in the mind, is
that which hurts a patient. It is rarely the loudness of the noise, the
effect upon the organ of the ear itself, which appears to affect the
sick. How well a patient will generally bear, e.g., the putting up of
a scaffolding close to the house, when he cannot bear the talking, still
less the whispering, especially if it be of a familiar voice, outside
his door.
There are certain patients, no doubt, especially where there is slight
concussion or other disturbance of the brain, who are affected by mere
noise.
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