122. CONCLUSIVE REMARKS.—OBSTACLES.
Before concluding my article, I shall attempt to remove a few objections and obstacles, which are usually raised against the practice of the hydriatic system in families.
123. WANT OF WATER.
One of the obstacles is the want of a sufficient quantity of water in some houses, and the difficulty of procuring it.
This obstacle is easily removed.
If you cannot procure water enough for a half-bath—for there cannot be a difficulty in procuring a pailful for wetting the sheet—give your patient a dripping sheet instead, which, in most cases, will do as well; or, should there be a want of a wash-tub to give it in, a rubbing sheet may supply the bath.
124. DRIPPING SHEET, SUBSTITUTE FOR THE HALF-BATH.
To apply the dripping sheet, a tin bathing hat or a large wash-tub is placed near the patient's bed, and a pail of water on the brim of the hat, or close by the tub. Dip a linen sheet into it, and leave it there till you wish to take the patient out of his pack, but dispose it so that you can easily find the two corresponding corners. As soon as the patient steps into the hat or tub, seize the sheet by these corners and throw it over his head and body from behind, and rub him all over, head and all, whilst somebody else is supporting him, or whilst he is supporting himself by taking hold of one of the bed-posts. When the sheet becomes warm, empty part of your pail over the patient's head, by which means the water in the sheet is renewed, and rub again. Then repeat the same operation, and when all your water is gone, before the body of the patient is sufficiently cool, take water from the hat or tub and use it for the same purpose, till he is quite cooled down. Then dry him with another sheet, or a towel, and put him to bed again, if necessary.