Linseed meal poultice.—Stir the meal slowly and evenly in boiling water; boil this mixture for several minutes and stir briskly all the time, and when thick enough it is well beaten with a spoon to remove lumps. If this is properly done it will be a light smooth paste, just stiff enough to drop away from the spoon. Use a muslin or coarse cloth and spread the poultice on this to the depth of one-half inch, leaving one inch space to turn in. Put vaselin over the surface, thin, and cover with a thin layer of gauze or thin cloth. Turn the edges over and roll in a towel to keep it warm and carry to patient. Keep them warm,—one should never be removed until another is ready to be put on. The skin should always be wiped dry before another is applied. Oiling the poultice prevents irritation of the skin and pimples. Cover the poultice loosely if possible with a layer of cotton-wool and oiled muslin to retain the heat and moisture longer. It should be changed every three hours at least. Apply hot and never keep on when it is cold. It should never be used a second time.
Starch Poultice.—This is used in skin diseases for its soothing properties. Mix the starch first with a little cold water and then add enough boiling water to make a thick paste, which is then spread on muslin covered with a layer of gauze.
The Jacket Poultice. For lung affections.—Two layers of thin muslin are shaped so as to fit closely around the neck and under the arms and come over the chest and back, low enough to cover the lungs. Three sides are now closed, and the prepared linseed is poured into the bag and regularly distributed. Close the open end and then apply. Cover it with wool and oiled silk and keep in place with safety pins or tapes which are tied under the arms and over the shoulders. When changing the poultice be careful not to expose the patient. A cotton-wool jacket should be worn a few days after the poultice has been discontinued.
Cold is applied either by means of the cold bath or by compresses, pack, sponging, coils or ice.
Cold Compresses are made by using two or three thicknesses of lint or linen wrung out of cold water or ice water and applied over the inflamed part, and changed frequently. A little vaselin may be rubbed on to prevent the skin from becoming irritated. They are very useful where little weight can be borne. If iced compresses are used a small block of ice partially wrapped in flannel is placed in a basin; there should be two compresses, one of which is kept on ice while the other is on the patient.
Compresses are very good in the early stage of tonsilitis, quinsy, sore throat, laryngitis and croup.
Ice-bags (India Rubber).—With these, cold can be best applied and with less trouble. These are made in different shapes. For instance helmet-shaped to fit the head and long and narrow for the spine.
Crush the ice in small pieces and mix in it a little common salt,—never fill the rubber bags more than half full; expel the air as much as possible by pressing before screwing on the top. Always place a layer of lint, cotton or thin cloth between the skin and the bag. The extreme cold is not only painful but liable to irritate the skin, and may cause frost-bites. Its effect should be watched carefully. Sometimes the weight causes discomfort. In such cases suspend the bag. For the head, fasten a bandage to the neck of the bag and pin the two ends to the pillow just high enough to allow the cap (bag) to barely touch the head. Care should be taken to refill the ice-bags before the ice has melted. At times a piece of ice is wrapped in moist lint or old linen and passed gently over the head in order to cool the head.
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For Appendicitis.—There should be quite a thickness of cloth between the ice bag and the skin. The latter must not become too cool. In this disease this bag is a great reliever of the pain and generally used.