Mother, Nurse and Infant / A Manual Especially Adapted for the Guidance of Mothers and Monthly Nurses, Comprising Full Instruction in Regard To Pregnancy, Preparation for Child-birth, and the Care of Mother and Child, and Designed to Impart so Much Knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology, Midwifery, and the Proper Use of Medicines as Will Serve Intelligently to Direct the Wife, Mother and Nurse in All Emergencies.

by S. P. Sackett

3. Twenty drops spirits turpentine may be sprinkled over each stupe, but be careful about blistering the skin or making a sore.

4. A decoction of chamomile flowers, hops, or conium, may be used for the fomentation instead of water.

5. Twenty drops or more of laudanum may be dropped over each stupe. This might soothe pain without causing stupor.

Poultices, like stupes, are means of applying warmth and moisture. If applied early, it is believed they may prevent the formation of pus, as they bring about a resolution of the inflammation. When suppuration has commenced they facilitate the passage of matter to the surface, and lessen the extent of the disease. When applied to an inflamed part or swelling they should extend over considerable surrounding surface, but for a suppurating wound they should be but little larger than the opening.

Avoid putting them on very hot in a case of paralysis and also upon children, though they should be applied quite hot usually.

To make BREAD POULTICES pour boiling water on slices of bread without crust, simmer a few minutes, then beat up the bread quickly and spread it upon a piece of muslin previously cut of the desired size, leaving about two inches of margin upon each side. Then put on the poultice some lard or oil or vaseline to keep it from getting dry and hard, and to make it less likely to stick. It will be well to put on it a cover of thin muslin or mosquito netting, or tulle, or illusion, and then fold over like a broad hem the edges of both the covers. The poultice should be evenly spread about a quarter of inch in thickness and may be carried to the patient on a small tray or board, and if you are changing the poultice you should also have a small basin to carry away the old ones. After applying the poultice cover with some impervious material (oiled muslin or rubber cloth) to keep in the heat. Such a poultice as this will keep warm for five or six hours, but it should not be allowed to become cold and hard. Milk should not be used in making poultices as it quickly sours.

Poultices are made of various materials. Flax seed meal, starch, powdered slippery elm, Indian meal, and oat meal are used. They should all be made of such a consistence that they will be tenacious as possible, and should have at least a little oil on them to prevent their getting dry.

For PUTRID SORES some disinfectant solution may be used instead of water in making the poultice, such as a weak solution of chlorinated soda.

Yeast poultices are used to hasten the separation of gangrenous sloughs. Mix six ounces of yeast with the same quantity of water at blood heat. Stir in fourteen ounces of wheat flour and let it stand near the fire until it rises. Apply while fermenting, or, “Take of wheat flour a pound, yeast half a pint, mix, and expose the mixture to a gentle heat until it begins to rise.”

The following are old officinal forms for poultices: