The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-06

GERS, want q stimulating lotion applied
with lint, after the manner of water dress
ing, and the support of a bandage. But
| should like MY readers to bear in mind
that the healing of ulcers depends in a
very great measure upon the state of the
constitution. The blood must be strength
ened by good food, else the sore will not
heal. Why, it cannot heal, unless you
supply it with flesh forming material,
and this material must come from the
blood. But, in addition to the enrich
ment of the blood, if the ulcer be in the
leg, this must bes kept up as much as
possible, and bandaged firmly but not
too tightly from the toes upward.
Four or five grains of powdered alum
or sulphate of zinc to the ounce of water
make another handy stimulating lotion.
Goulard water is easily made. Simply
add a tea-spoonful of sugar of lead to o
a pint of water; it is rendered more cool
ing by the addition of spirits of wine
1t is an excellent application for painful
swellings.
For wry OF stiff neck, or in cases where
you wish to redden the surface in order
to relieve internal swelling. and pain, a
mixture of one part of hartshorn
to two of olive oil is a capital liniment.
Rub we'll in.
Carron oil is a mixture of lime-water
and olive Oil, and has been in repute for
centuries as an application to burns. I
know of nothing better, however, for
instantaneously taking the heat out of a
burn where the surface is not broken
than turpentine. Soak the part well
with it for a minuteso or two; the relief
is magical. l expect more than a
thousand of my readers to be grateful to
me for giving them this simple hint.
In conclusion, | have a word or two
to say about poultices. In.cases of local
Inflammation of any kind they form the
best applications possible. They are Of
many different kinds. The simplest are
made of oatmeal, linseed meal, or bread
and water. The oatmeal poultice is, to
speak plainly, just porridge without salt.
The linseed poultice is made by stirring
the meal into boiling water gradually,
and working it up we'll until a proper
consistency is obtained. The bread and
water poultice is made by pouring boil
ing water over pieces of stale bread,
covering up with a plate for a short
time, then draining off the water. Char
coal may be added to this if thought de-
sirable, which it might be in cases of
degenerate ulcers.
Carrots and turnips are sometimes
made into poultices, and are very sootb
ing.
Onion poultice is made by MASKING up
half-roasted onions and spreading them
on a rag. 1t is a favorite application
with some for colds in the chest. If the
chest be previously Redeemed by rubbing
in a little warm turpentine the effect
will be better, but on no account should
it be applied to an abraded surface.
The use of the mustard cataplasm is
very well known. In pains in the chest
from colds it is of great service, and also
in cases of dyspepsia and pains in the
stomach, with retching and vomiting.
Poultices to the neck, for sore throat
and glandular swellings of a painful
kind, do good; but if you begin with
them, you must keep on changing them,
or more harm than good will result.
Finally, remember, what DIR. Abernethy
said about poulticcs: "They are either
blessings or curses, according to whether
they be well or badly made. = assel's
Family Magazine.