Sickness, its trials and blessings.

  • Maurice, Priscilla, 1810-
Date:
1859
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sickness, its trials and blessings. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    184/346 page 166
    V. NUESES AND ATTENDANTS. Another class of the trials which weakness brings, belongs to the nurses and attendants. The innumerable fancies which will haunt a sick person on this subject could not be written. Sometimes a most violent dislike will be taken to some person ; it may be quite without reason, but it seems impossible to overcome it. The sick person feels that it is, perhaps, very sinful, earnestly fights against it, but in vain, for the more he strives, the stronger it grows. Each time the attendant comes into the room he grows restless and distressed, and if she comes near the bed or sofa, it is only by the mercy of God that some words of annoyance or dis- pleasure do not burst out. At any rate, it may cause really distressing feelings —quicken the pulse, make the heart beat quickly, or seem to stop. There may be a sensation of not being able to breathe when this person is near, as if she took up all the air which you ought to have. She seems to oppress you, to be as a weight on your heart or your spirits; you feel persecuted by her, and as if she ought to be removed from your sight. Or what is far more distressing, it may be some dear friend to whom you feel all this, and cannot account for it at all, only that
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