387. In the Convulsions of Infancy and Childhood the little patient should be put into a hot bath, with as little delay as possible, the head at the same time being slightly elevated, and enveloped in cloths kept wet with cold water, the colder the better. Under the simultaneous use of the hot bath and the cold lotion to the head, aided by the administration of a dose of Castor Oil, the convulsions will often speedily subside. The bath should be as hot as can be borne, about 98° F., and the child should remain in it for ten or fifteen minutes, but the cold to the head may be continued for some hours. Should the convulsions return, the bath may be repeated, followed by small Mustard poultices (247) applied to the feet. A hot bath is also very useful in allaying Colic in Children.

388. To check violent Hæmorrhage or Flooding after Labours, nothing is much more effectual than dashing cold water in a pretty full stream, and with some little degree of force, over the abdominal surface, especially the lower portion. At the same time, a piece of soft rag, made into a pyramidical form, thoroughly saturated with cold water, or vinegar and water (in equal parts), should be introduced into the vagina. After the flooding has been subdued, the external application of cold water, or vinegar and water, should be kept on for some time. N.B.—During a confinement in India, it should be an invariable rule, to meet such an emergency as the above, to have ready at hand two or three chatties of cold water, for a patient may die from loss of blood if the water has to be fetched from a distant source.

389. In Cholera, the free use of cold water as a drink appears materially to aid other treatment, of whatsoever kind that may be; it should be as cold as procurable, iced if possible, and taken in large and repeated draughts; although the first four or five draughts may be rejected, its use should still be persevered in; the stomach will eventually retain it, and when this is effected, a beneficial change in the state of the patient generally takes place. Whatever other treatment is adopted, cold water (iced if possible) in copious draughts is a valuable auxiliary, perfectly safe, agreeable to the patient, and likely to be productive of the best effects.

390. Many forms of Sore Throat, and Coughs attended with Difficulty of Breathing and Scanty Expectoration, are much benefited by repeated inhalations of hot water, and their efficiency is increased by the addition of mucilaginous agents, as Abelmoschus (1). In Croup, relays of sponges filled with water, as hot as the little patient can bear, should be applied immediately beneath the chin, along the whole course of the throat. They should be persevered in for half an hour, and then discontinued if they fail to produce benefit. In severe cases, Turpentine stupes (362) prove more serviceable.

392. In many painful affections of the Kidneys, Bladder, and Uterus, in the passage of Gall Stones, and in Retention of the Urine from Spasmodic Stricture consequent on a debauch or exposure, the hot hip-bath proves highly serviceable and soothing.

393. Hot-water Fomentations are very serviceable in many cases, e.g., Local Inflammations, Incipient Abscesses, Boils, Sprains, Lumbago, Colic and Spasmodic Affections of the Bowels, Congestion of the Liver, Asthma, &c. To obtain their full effect, a few points require to be attended to. 1. The water should be as hot as can be borne. 2. Two or more thickly folded cloths (if flannel so much the better) of a size rather larger than the surface they are to cover, should be in readiness. 3. One of these having been removed from the water, should be thoroughly rung, so that it should hold no superfluous moisture, and should be immediately applied to the surface. 4. A second cloth having been got ready in the same way, the first, after the lapse of two or three minutes, should be removed, and the second applied. This process should be continued for half an hour if necessary, care being taken that the water be kept at the original temperature by means of fresh relays, and that there should be no longer interval than possible between the removal of one and the application of the succeeding fomentation. Subsequently, care should be taken to protect the fomented part from exposure to cold draughts of air. Some forms of severe Headache, especially those occurring in Fevers, are far more benefited by hot-water fomentations, or stupes thus applied, than from cold lotions commonly employed for the purpose. According to Dr. Aitchison, nothing relieves the Headache or great fulness of the Head in Fevers so effectually as the continuous application of extremely hot-water stupes to the nape of the neck. The Irritative Bilious Diarrhœa of these Fevers, he adds, is more frequently improved and arrested by large warm-water enemas, administered at least morning and evening, than by any other remedy he knows of.

394. In the treatment of Wounds, Ulcers, and Inflamed surfaces, "WATER DRESSING" possesses many advantages, especially in tropical regions, over poultices and ointments. The process is exceedingly simple, consisting only of a piece of lint of thick texture, and of a size sufficient completely to cover the wound, soaked in tepid water. This is placed on the affected part, and the whole enveloped in an ample piece of oiled silk, so as effectually to prevent evaporation. Young plantain leaf answers the purpose as well as oiled silk. Cold water may be substituted for tepid, should it be more agreeable to the feelings of the patient.

395. Sloughing and Gangrenous Ulcerations, and Carbuncles ("Rajah Boils") after suppuration, are more effectually treated by what is termed "IRRIGATION," which consists in keeping up a continuous stream of water, tepid or cold, as the patient may prefer, for half an hour twice daily. A common kettle, or one of the natives' drinking-vessels provided with a spout, answers well for the purpose, and it should be held so that the fall of water should be about a foot, or rather more, but the height should be regulated in a measure by the patient's feelings. If pain is caused, the height should be diminished. With each irrigation, more or less of the slough comes away, and in a few days the ulcer will, in most instances, assume a healthy appearance, when it may be treated as an ordinary ulcer—with cold water dressing, Turpentine, or Wax Ointment, &c. In the intervals between the irrigation, Toddy Poultices (355) should be applied.

396. Another way in which Water may be utilised is in the formation of a VAPOUR BATH, which is often a most serviceable resource in Chronic Rheumatism, Obstinate Skin Disease, Dropsical Affections, the early stages of Diabetes, and in all cases where the skin is dry, rough, and not much above the natural standard. It is inadvisable in fever cases. Incipient Colds and Catarrhs following exposure to wet, &c., may often be speedily arrested by a vapour bath, taken immediately before going to bed at night.

397. The Vapour Bath apparatus, which should be kept ready in all large establishments in India, consists of a bamboo frame of a conical shape, covered with wax cloth or some other impervious material; it should be large enough to enclose the whole body (when the patient is in a sitting posture), and an aperture with a loose frill attached, so as to tie round the patient's throat, should be left at the apex. Under this the patient, divested of his clothing, should sit with the head and face projecting through the opening at the top, and a chattie, or open vessel, of boiling water having been introduced, sweating soon commences and should be kept up for a quarter of an hour or more. Then the patient should be thoroughly dried with warm, rough towels and go to bed, or be carefully wrapped up in blankets so as to be effectually protected from draughts of cold air.