Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-01
REsEEIr OF PACKS

| A writer in the Housekeeper, who states
that she has had much experience upon
| the subject of giving packs for fevers,
colds, etc., gives the following directions
for the benefit of those who may wish to
use them: First, it is much more con-
venient if you can have what is called a
for the frame work is thirty inches wide,
twenty-five inches high, with the stats
placed on slight elevation, about three
and half inches, at head, then mattress
made to fit it, it can be of straw or what
ever you wish, on that place an oil cloth,
then comforter, then blanket, stripes at
side, and place jug of hot water, with a
rubber cork, at foot now have a patient
ready. Take a sheet and with one hand
pleat up the side of it, and with the other
double it at middle seam and dip it in q
pail of water of the temperature of 90 or
1902 lyon must allow five or six degrees
for cooling off in wringing out sheet, wiring
and spread over the blanket. Have patient
lie in center with hands over head, bring
one side of sheet over the body, tucking it
between the limbs, put arms down at side of
body and bring other side of sheet over the
patient and tuck in closely then one side of
blanket, then the other, then comforter in
same way. In folding the blanket and
comforter around neck bring it with one
hand in shape of V over the breast and
then fOld corner up to the shoulder and
tuck in. This saves so much bulk close up
to the neck. Now fold dry sheet across
the middle and put it over the patient,
tucking it well around the neck that no
air can get in. The reason of using this
extra sheet is, it is so much easier tucked
closely around the neck and less bungling
than the comforter. 1t is of great import
ance that all air is excluded and the work
done quickly place cloth wet in cold
water on the head, extending over the eyes.
If the patient does not warm up quickly,
put an extra comforter or blankets over
him, and if necessary jugs of hot water at
the side, for unless he becomes warm soon
the pack will do no good and he should be
taken out. The usual length of pack is
from forty minutes to an hour for an adult,
for child from ten minutes to half an
hour, according to age and strength.
There must be perfect quiet in the room,
for much better results are obtained if the
patient will sleep-he certainly must not
talk. In taking him out unloose comfort
ers and blankets and pull the wet sheet ont
quickly and throw over the dry sheet, or
in winter bring up the blanket. There are
several different treatments that follow a
pack. If convenient tc bathroom one
can slip in and take wash-otf, or a spray,
or pail-pour; the latter is given By having
four pals of water, two OF one tempera-
tUre 90 poured over first, and then two OF
So, then wrap around him dry sheet and
take crash towel and wipe dry, taking in
rotation arms, breast, back and legs or if
a cold bath, sponge or dry rub is given, let
him remain on the cot, and for an oil bath
rub an arm dry with crash towel, then
rub with oil, and SO on for sponge bath
take sponge or towel and tepid water
and sponge off, rubbing dry with crash
towel, rubbing hard to create good circula-
tioa. The temperature of the room wants
to be about 75, and when the patient is
taken out OF the pack let no cold air come
on him. The temperature of the water in
which sheet is dipped for adults generally
is not SO important, as within two or three
minutes it becomes of the same tempera-
ture as the body; from go to 100 is a
good range but for children and delicate
persons it wants to be from 100 to ll0', 60
as not to shock them. Packs are OF great
value in reducing fever, in breaking up fe.
yer, in breaking up cold, and also in poor
and where the system is weak
ened and run down it acts as tonic.
know of case where a child of two years
had a very severe cold and her treatment
was pack, ll0' one evening, followed by
an oil rub, and the next two evenings sim.
ply oil rubs, and the cold was perfectly
l,rnkn