f sickness and
alleviation of suffering must never be neglected; not in cure, however,
but in prevention lies the hope of modern sanitary science, of modern
medicine, and of modern nursing.

Nearly every woman at some time in her life is called upon to assist in
caring for the sick. Indeed, approximately 90% of all sick persons in
the United States are cared for at home, even in cities where hospital
facilities are good. Moreover, every woman is largely responsible for
maintaining her own health, and few escape responsibility at some time
for maintaining the health of others. For such responsibility most women
are poorly prepared. Every year in our own country thousands of persons,
many of them babies and children, die merely because someone, in many
cases a woman, is fatally ignorant of the laws governing sickness and
health.

Only prolonged and careful training, such as good hospital
training-schools afford, can furnish the skill and judgment required in
nursing persons who are seriously ill. Upon the trained nurse the modern
practice of medicine makes great and ever-increasing demands: a nurse
must perform complicated duties, meet critical situations, and carry out
a wide variety of measures based on scientific principles which she must
understand. Good will and sympathy are no longer enough; amateur
nursing, even when performed with the best intentions, may involve grave
dangers for those who are seriously ill.

On the other hand, although it is true that a little knowledge is a
dangerous thing, it is no less true that total ignorance may be more
dangerous still. For instance, in cases of incipient, slight, or chronic
illness, and in certain emergencies a little knowledge may be safer far
than no knowledge at all; and no one, surely, should be ignorant of the
principles of hygiene.

The American Red Cross, recognizing the part that women can and should
play in preventing sickness and in building up the health and vigor of
the nation, has added to its larger patriotic services this elementary
course of instruction in hygiene and home care of the sick. The lessons
are not intended to take the place of a nurse's training, and procedures
requiring technical skill are necessarily omitted. The object of the
book is to supply a little knowledge of sickness, which though limited
may yet be safe. The book is also designed to set forth some general
laws of health; to make possible earlier recognition of symptoms; to
teac