Mental nursing; or, Lectures for asylum attendants.

  • Harding, W. (William Harry), 1941-
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Mental nursing; or, Lectures for asylum attendants. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

    174/178 (page 156)
    Feeding Cu2)s, etc.—During the very acute stage when probably only fluids will be taken, some form of feeding cup will be required. The ordinary shape with the rounded spout is not always suitable, although it is useful for nasal feeding either by itself or with the tube attached. One of the most con- venient forms is that of an ordinary butter-boat with rather long spout. Feeding cups for the insane should not be made of crockery but of some such material as Britannia-metal which does not chip off nor crack between the teeth when bitten. The arrangements for special means of feeding will be attended to by the medical man. Probably fork and spoon will be used when the very acute stage is j^ast, and then if there be no special suicidal or homicidal tendency the use of ordinary forks and knives will be permitted under close supervision. It is as well that the knives should not be very sharp, but it is sometimes bene- ficial to allow the patient to see that some confidence is put in her. In these exceptional cases the special forms of knife and fork should be used, in which the length of the fork prong is limited and the knife is pointless and has only a portion of the blade sharpened. Wet-packing (p. 125) is a form of treatment which will be found very useful in private cases. The nurses will probably be obliged to get in outside help and it would be well to have a rehearsal, showing the strangers the method fully before beginning on the actual patient.