3204. Dressings are substances usually applied to parts for the purpose of soothing, promoting their reunion when divided, protecting them from external injuries, as a means of applying various medicines, to absorb discharges, protect the surrounding parts, and securing cleanliness.
3205. Certain instruments are required for the application of dressings in domestic surgery, viz.—Scissors, a pair of tweezers, or simple forceps, a knife, needles and thread, a razor, a lancet, a piece of lunar caustic in a quill, and a sponge.
3206. The materials required for dressings, consist of lint, scraped linen, carded cotton, tow, ointment spread on calico, adhesive plaster, compresses, pads, poultices, old rags of linen or calico, and water.
3207. The following rules should be attended to in applying dressings. Always prepare the new dressings before removing the old ones.
3208. Always have hot and cold water at hand, and a vessel to place the foul dressings in.