Chapter 4
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and will not allow the windows raised, or the doors opened. The sick,
and the attendants, are in this case compelled to breathe the poisonous
atmosphere from day to day, because of the inexcusable ignorance of
the friends of the sick.
In very many cases the attendants are ignorant of the wants of the
system, and the relation which the breathing of fresh air sustains to
health, and the life-destroying influence of inhaling the diseased air
of a sick-room. In this case the life of the sick is endangered, and the
attendants themselves are liable to take on diseases, and lose health,
and perhaps life.
If fevers enter a family, often more than one have the same fever.
This need not be, if the habits of the family are correct. If their diet is
as it should be, and they observe habits of cleanliness, and realize the
necessity of ventilation, the fever need not extend to another member
of the family. The reason of fevers prevailing in families, and exposing
the attendants, is because the sick-room is not kept free from poisonous
infection, by cleanliness and proper ventilation.
If attendants are awake to the subject of health, and realize the
necessity of ventilation for their own benefit, as well as that of the
patient, and the relatives, as well as the sick, oppose the admission of
air and light into the sick-room, the attendants should have no scruples
of conscience in leaving the sick-room. They should feel themselves
released from their obligations to the sick. It is not the duty of one or
more to risk the liability of incurring disease, and endangering their
lives by breathing a poisonous atmosphere. If the sick will fall a victim
to their own erroneous ideas, and will shut out of the room the most
essential of Heaven’s blessings, let them do so, but not at the peril of
those who ought to live.
The mother, from a sense of duty, has left her family to administer
in the sick room, where pure air was not allowed to enter, and has
become sick by inhaling the diseased atmosphere, which affected her
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whole system. After a period of much suffering, she has died leaving
her children motherless. The sick, who shared the sympathy and
unselfish care of this mother, recovered, but neither the sick, nor the
friends of the sick, understood that precious life was sacrificed because
of their ignorance of the relation which pure air sustains to health.
Neither did they feel responsibility in regard to the stricken flock, left
without the tender mother’s care.