I have often seen really good nurses distressed, because they could not
impress the doctor with the real danger of their patient; and quite
provoked because the patient "would look," either "so much better" or
"so much worse" than he really is "when the doctor was there." The
distress is very legitimate, but it generally arises from the nurse not
having the power of laying clearly and shortly before the doctor the
facts from which she derives her opinion, or from the doctor being hasty
and inexperienced, and not capable of eliciting them. A man who really
cares for his patients, will soon learn to ask for and appreciate the
information of a nurse, who is at once a careful observer and a clear
reporter.
[39]
[Sidenote: Danger of physicking by amateur females.]
I have known many ladies who, having once obtained a "blue pill"
prescription from a physician, gave and took it as a common aperient two
or three times a week--with what effect may be supposed. In one case I
happened to be the person to inform the physician of it, who substituted
for the prescription a comparatively harmless aperient pill.
Pages:
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221