ssentials are concerned, great consideration should be given to a
patient's preferences; yet on the other hand it is not reasonable to
make an entire family miserable in order to gratify some slight whim.

CHOICE OF A SICK ROOM.--A south or east exposure is generally best for a
sick room. A south room may be undesirable in very hot weather, but
sunshine during a part of the day is essential. The room should be
quiet, near the bath room, and well removed from odors from the kitchen.
It should be situated so that good ventilation is possible. It is
desirable though not necessary for it to have more than one window; in
summer the windows must be thoroughly screened. It should be possible to
open the window without exposing the patient to a direct current of air,
and to open the door without placing him in full view of all who pass
through the hall.

It is essential for the patient to have a room to himself. Unless he
needs care or help or watching at night, not even the person caring for
him should sleep in the room. Neither should the rest of the family
keep their possessions in the sick room. Closets opening into the room,
bureaus, and chiffoniers should be emptied of the belongings of other
members of the family, to prevent people from tiptoeing into the sick
room at all hours to remove garments. The sick room should for the time
belong exclusively to the patient, and resulting inconvenience should be
borne by well members of the family.

Every possible precaution should be taken to exclude from a sick room
unnecessary noises of all kinds; flapping curtains, squeaky doors and
rocking chairs, heels without rubber, creaking corsets, noisy
petticoats, ticking clocks, refractory bureau drawers, and rustling
newspapers are among the everyday sounds that irritate the nerves of
sick and well alike. Ordinary out-of-door noises do not usually disturb
the sick, except when the country patient is brought to the city, or the
reverse; but nearby and generally avoidable noise is the kind that
distracts and harasses nervous patients.

Whispering is an annoying sound and should not be allowed, either in the
patient's room or just outside the door. Whatever the subject of
conversation may be, the patient thinks that he is under discussion.
Anything undesirable for him to hear should be settled well out of his
hearing, and in speaking to him there is no possible objection to an
ordinary well modulated voice.

Usually a person's own