hould not be used. Individual sets of dishes for the sick may be
purchased, and their convenience makes them well worth their price.
Paper napkins may be used in many cases to save laundry work; clean
white paper is always superior to soiled linen.

Before the tray is brought to the bedside, everything should be arranged
so that the patient can eat in comfort. It is bad management to let the
soup cool while the patient's pillows and table are being adjusted. In
setting the tray great care should be devoted to placing the articles
conveniently, and to the appearance and garnishing of the food. Careful
serving requires more thought, but little if any more actual time than
slovenly serving. Dishes should not be so full that food is spilled in
transit; hot dishes should be covered; hot dishes should reach the
patient hot, and cold dishes cold. Liquid nourishment in a glass or cup
should be served on a small tray or plate covered with a doily. Neither
glass nor cup should be held by the rim.

It is not uncommon to overload trays and to serve everything at once in
order to save steps, but a patient is ordinarily more interested in a
meal that is served in courses unless very long intervals elapse
between. Moreover, if the meal is served in courses he is not tempted to
eat dessert first and then to refuse the rest of the meal. If food is
given sufficiently often it is safer to err on the side of serving too
little at a time rather than too much, since the sight of large amounts
of food is often disgusting.

The patient's likes and dislikes should be considered as far as
possible, but most patients should not be consulted about their menus
beforehand. Great variety in one meal is not necessary; it should be
introduced by varying successive meals. An article that has been
especially disliked should not be served a second time, unless it can be
disguised beyond a possibility of detection. An article of food to which
a patient objects should be removed at once; one may appear disappointed
if it seems wise, but should never argue. When patients persistently
refuse necessary nourishment a difficult situation is presented;
persuasion and every form of ingenuity must be used, and the doctor's
cooperation enlisted. When, for example, a strict milk diet is ordered
for a patient who announces that he never takes milk in any
circumstances the situation may seem hopeless but it is not necessarily
so.

TO FEED A HELPLESS PATIENT.--Helpl