ent to close his lips over the thermometer. He can also hold the stem
with his fingers, It should never be taken here right after a cold drink.
Unconscious patients may bite through the instrument, so care must be
taken with them.

Arm-pit.--Wipe the part thoroughly dry and place the point directly in the
arm-pit. Then place the elbow against the body and the hand on the chest
pointing to the opposite shoulder. When ready to take it out move the arm
away from the body and take the thermometer away gently for it sticks
sometimes and you will cause pain if you draw it away quickly. The
instrument should be cleansed in tepid mild salt solution.

PULSE.--Average in men, sixty to seventy. In women, sixty-five to eighty.
Children ninety to one hundred to one hundred and twenty. Different
authors vary. In men it is generally seventy to seventy-two. In women
seventy-two to seventy-five.

It is better taken sitting. It is faster when walking, slower when lying
down. I always take the pulse in the left arm unless there is a deformity
there. I use my right hand with the third finger toward the elbow. By
using the first three fingers you can find out different things about the
pulse. Some people are very nervous and such an one will make your arm
ache when feeling the pulse. The pulse should be regular, even beats, in
health. Sometimes you can feel it best on the temple or on the neck.

RESPIRATION (Breathing).--In an adult the average is eighteen per minute.
In a child the average is twenty to twenty-four. Respiration is the act of
taking in (inspiration), and giving out (expiration) air by the lungs.

THE TONGUE.--This is coated in dyspepsia and fevers,--some healthy persons
always have a coated tongue.

[NURSING DEPARTMENT 643]

In Ulcers of the stomach there is no coating.

In high fevers, the tongue may also be red and cracked as well as coated
in some parts.

A dark brown or blackish coating indicates a serious condition in acute
diseases.

Strawberry tongue is seen in Scarlet Fever.

Cankered tongue and month may be due to local conditions, or to stomach,
liver and bowel disorders.

In Peritonitis the tongue is generally dry and red (beefy).

Cholera Infantum.--At first coated, then dry and reddish.

Constipation.--Tongue is generally coated.

Biliousness.--Yellowish dirty coating.

DIET

FOODS AND DRINKS FOR THE SICK ROOM.

DIET.--The importance of diet and its relation to the needs of