unnoticed, in sickness are so magnified as to occasion
annoyance and vexation. Sick persons are not all alike, and the
peculiarities of each must be studied separately. The nurse must be
_kind_, but _firm_, and not yield to such whims of the patient as may be
detrimental to recovery; neither must she arouse dislike or anger by
opposition, but endeavor to _win_ the patient from all delusions. The
feelings of the patient should never be trifled with, for idealities
become realities.

The nurse should possess an inexhaustible store of patience. Disease
affects the mind of the patient and fills it with strange delusions. The
sick are often querulous, fretful, and unreasonable, and should be
treated with kindness, forbearance, and sympathy. The nurse should
always be cheerful, look on the bright side of every circumstance,
animate them with encouragement, and inspire them with hope. Hope is one
of the best of tonics. It stimulates the flagging, vital energies, and
imparts new life to the weak and exhausted forces. Gloom, sadness, and
despondency depress the vital forces and lead to death. We have seen
patients rapidly sinking, who had given up all hope, and were quietly
awaiting the coming of death, snatched, as it were, from its grasp, and
restored to health, by words of cheer and encouragement.

The nurse should possess _moral principles_, which alone can win the
confidence of the patient. She should have judgment, circumspection,
intelligence, forethought, alacrity, carefulness, and neatness. In a
word she should exercise _common sense_.

We deem it but justice to say a word in behalf of the nurse. She, too,
is a human being, subject to disease, and, unless hygienic conditions be
observed, will soon be stricken low by its presence. She must be
relieved occasionally and get rest, or she cannot long withstand the
combined influence of fatigue and disease. Her office is an arduous one
at best, and the long, weary hours of night-watching should be
compensated by exercise in the open air, as well as by sleep during the
day. Unless this be done, the system will become exhausted, and sleep
will intrude itself upon her at the time when the greatest diligence is
required for the welfare of the patient, when the vital powers are at
their lowest ebb. She should be supplied with plenty of suitable food
during the night, to sustain her and to serve as a safeguard against the
invasion of disease. She should be treated with kindness a