Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the regulations affecting the sanitary condition of the army, the organization of military hospitals, and the treatment of the sick and wounded ; with evidence and appendix. Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty.
- Great Britain. Royal Commission Appointed to Inquire into the Sanitary Condition of the Army.
- Date:
- 1858
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the regulations affecting the sanitary condition of the army, the organization of military hospitals, and the treatment of the sick and wounded ; with evidence and appendix. Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.
694/978 page 568
![Report to mfirmitr mnjur about linen to be changed & daniiiges. Linen changed whenever ■n'anted. Dirty linen removed from the wards. A coffer kept on purpose for dirty linen in the ■ward. Wet or stained linen must be dried before putting them by. Change of linen. Dirty linen taken back to the stores and counted over again. Clean linen delivered upon certi- ficate of the in fir niter mdjor that received the dirty linen. Linen placed in good order into the presses. All beds to be on a line and at equal dis- tances. Beds made comfort- able. Bed making. five clays, but this rule will be strictly observed for such complaints only as are not likely to produce stains of blood or matter, or too abundant per- spiration. If an infirmier remarks that the linen of an invalid is dirtier than it ought to be, or that it is torn or pierced, or wet, he must report it to the infirmier major, who will ascertain the damage done and then change it. For patients seriously ill the only rule is, that of keeping- them always very clean, and linen well dried and warm must be kept always ready to change them as often as it may be necessary. The dirty linen from under the patients must not remain in the ward, and therefore the changing of the linen should imme- diately be followed by the transj)ort of it to the dirty linen stores. When the linen under the patients requires to be changed at an extraordinary time, it must be put by in a coffer kept on purpose at one of the ends of the ward, provided it is not too wet or stained with blood. When it is wet it must first be dried in some place adapted for that purpose, and when stained with blood it must be steeped in water immediately in the wash- house at the hours it is open, and in a special bucket at any other time in the interval when it is shut The change of linen at the stores is done in the following way : before the hour appointed, and ac- cording to the order of the infirmier major, all the linen is counted at the end of the Avard or out of it, is bound into parcels, and labelled .so as to show the (piantity. Then, at a given signal, all the parcels are taken to the stores, are unbound and re-counted over, spreading each piece to ascertain both the quality and quantity. Wlien the linen is well re-counted, bound, and placed on horses or trestles by the infirmiers, these go to the stores, with the list certified by the person that received the dirty linen, to draw an equal quantity of clean linen which is counted again in their presence, and which they carry into the ward, wliere it is counted over again in the presence of the infirmier major. The linen is then placed in tlie presses, where it is arranged in the most regular way so as to verify always the quantities contained in each, and to take out the pieces that are wanted without deranging what is left. Chapter 7th. Order and keeping oj the Beds, Coffers, Presses, Furniture, and Wards Implements. Infirmiers will be attentive in keeping all the beds well in line, which they can do by means of a rope or string the first time, and then by making a mark with l)lack oil paint under the feet of the beds before moving them. An equal distance nuist be kept between the beds. The next and most important thing is the making of the beiJs with great care, that the sick may be comfortable, well covered, and clean in them. To make a bed well, all that composes it must be removed and placed on another bed, or on some other support if the two next beds are occupied. After removing the effects of the invalid, the blankets are to be folded longways to prevent their dragging on the floor and removed, then with the same precaution the upper sheet, ])lacing it so as to recognize the upper end, then the bolster is rolled witli the under sheet with the same care ; the mattress will next be turned, folded in two, and placed on the top of the other things ; the straw in the palliasse is then shaken to make it softer and even all over ; this being properly done the mattress is replaced, and then the under- sheet and Ijolstcr, taking care that the seams of Ihe under-sheet are on the side of the matti-ess, as that of the upper-sheet against the blanket. The sheets must l)e first well shaken and well stretched, the Ijiankets are then put over and tucked in under lhi' maKresst's, and iinallv all the cfFecIs of the invalids are replaced, the trowsers at the foot of the bed, and over them the cloak ; any other object that they may have being put under the bolster. A well-made bed must present an even surface from the bolster to the foot of the bed without inequalities or stains. The night-table must be on the right side, unless there are reasons for the con- trary, placing on its inferior board the chamber-pot with handle foremost, and on the upper board the mug, the ptisan jug, the spittoon, and the vials. The board at the head of the bed is to hold the plate and basin, and what cannot be placed on the night-table. The board at the foot serves to receive the dressing materials, and at the time of the distributions the mug, and the plate and basin. The moveable board has a little border and serves as dining-table for the invalids, and sometimes is used at the distributions instead of the foot-board. The moveable board is to be hung with a hook to the bedstead, generally behind the he.ad. The bedsteads, boards, night-tables, &c., must be washed and dried and kept with the greatest clean- liness. The spoon is passed into a leather strap on the right post at the head of the bedstead. The coffers or presses are to contain the linen or vessels not in actual use. Everything must be so arranged as to be able to lay one's hand on the object required without disturbing the rest, and also to be able to reckon at a glance the quantity and quality of the different objects contained in each press or coffer. In bringing the linen from the stores attention must first be given that it is well dry, and if found damp it must be aired before putting it in the press or coffer ; and, secondly, that in jjutting the new linen in, it is placed under that still remaining in the coffer or press, which should be used first, to prevent its remaining there too long. These coflers or presses (which must be kept in a state of great neatness,) must have on their lids internally a state of all the furniture of the ward, from which at any moment the quantity in use may be ascertained. Their exterior must be kept always clean and dry, and frequently wiped and dusted, never putting on the coffers anything wet lest it might ooze through the lid. Close-stools being the most awkward furniture in the wards there will be none kept there except when absolutely necessary, and then they must close Avell and be frequently emptied, and removed as soon as they can be dispensed with. Partial bathing and washing tubs require peculiar care according to the material they are made of. They must all be emptied as soon as they have been used, but if they are made of tin, zinc, or copper, they must be well rinsed and dried with saw- dust or by moderate heat, and put in a dry place ; while if they are made of wood they must be well rinsed and Aviped dry, but then some clean Avater must be put into them again, to prevent the staves getting too dry and loose, especially in summer. The Avater, hoAvever, should be changed every tAvo or three days, if tlie tub is not used before. The metal vases supported in Avood frames, or mixed materials, require also special care, lest the materials used for the cleaning of one may prove injurious to the other, by rubbing aAvay the paint or otherAvise. The pails and buckets serving for different uses must be kept and Avaslied separately, and distin- guished either by some difference in .shape or colour, or by tickets stuck upon them, foUoAving the directions given on this subject in Chapter 5 of the instructions to the infirmier majors. Some of the utensils require particular care in their cleaning, as the drinking cups, Avhose pipe, after the Avhole is Avell rinsed, must be Aviped dry, passing a thin stick covered Avith linen through it. The bed pans are cleaned by unscrcAving first their stopper, then emptying and rinsing them Avell with hot Avater till no smell is left. The urinals in the sauu' AvaA-. Dislsi- tioif ute Is rou! thf bed bos. M( ,abl. bo; . Be bo; s cle Li- ve: CO) pr( Li dr pi: ne uu Oil LL th( or El i; be dr Ti Cl£ I of Ute li](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21365210_0694.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
