The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-06-04
CARE OF HI SICK.
P0ultices, Plasters and Blisters - he
They arc Prepared.

Poultices, Plasters and Blisters How
They are Prepared.
Poultices are used in SO many cases
that it is very important to know how
to make and apply them properly.
They + intended to convey warmth
and moisture to the parts affected, and
so must not be made too dry, nor al
lowed to grow cold before being put on.
A wet, sloppy poultice is almost as OBJ
jectionable as a dry, hard one, and a
little care will enable one to attain the
happy medium. Flaxseed meal is the
best material for a poultice; it is not
always at hand in a country house, and
then a substitute must be found for it.
If many poultices are likely to be re-
quired, as in ~peritonitis, or infiamma-
ton of the bowels, it is well to buy 3
few pounds, for nothing a satisfac-
torily replace it. If it has not been ap-
piled to an open surface where there
is a discharge of matter, the flaxseed
can be scraped from the cotton and
heated again, adding a little water if
too stiff, or more meal if there is not
enough. To make it, have ready a suf-
ficient quantity of boiling water in a
saucepan (two teacupfuls will
make a good-sized poultice), and
into this stir enough of the
meal to make a soft, thick paste. By
stirring in mi direction, and putting
in the meal gradually, there will be no
Jumps. 1t need not boil after the flax
seed is in. Have ready a piece of old
cotton, about two inches larger each
way than the poultice is to be when APP
piled, and a small piece of thin muslin.
Dip a spoon in boiling water, andspread
the f1axseed evenly on the cotton, leav-
ing at least two inches of margin on all
sides; lay the muslin on top of the
poultice. and fold the margin neatly over
it. This prevents the possibility of the
f1axseed oozing out. Nopoultice or plas-
ter should ever be directly applied to the
skin; there should always be a layer of
| muslin, old linen, fine cambria. or
| some thin fabric, between, to prevent
| the skin from being soiled, and to make
it more easy to remove the application.
Carrots, boiled soft and smoothly
mashed, make a good poultice, and
turnips prepared in the same way are
| sometimes used. These must be spread
/ quickly, or they will cool too rapidly.
| Onions boiled in water to which a little
| vinegar has been added, make an excel
lent poultice; they should be crushed
| with a spoon when spreading them on
| the cotton. Indian meal makes a tei-
| cradle substitute for faxseed, and is i'm
| proved by the addition of a third part
| of slippery elm. Bread is a good ma
terial for a small poultice; it should be
| stale and only the crumbs used. Crum-
| pour over it enough boiling milk
| When a poultice is intendedt 10 relieve
pain, a small quantity of laudanum is
| sprinkled on the surface. II it is sap-
| piled when there is an offensive dis
charge, powered charcoal is used in the
same way, or a tablespoonful of carbolie
acid solution is put into the water witt
which it is made. A poultice ought to
be removed every two hours at least
and covered with a piece of oiled silk
India rubber cloth, or several thick
nesses of flannel, to retain the heat
Before applying it. test it with thu
finger; if it feels uncomfortably warm
it is certainly too hot to lay on a sicl
person. When a gentle stimulant is re
quired, a mustard plaster is general,
used. Equal parts of mustard anG
wheat flour is a good proportion. The.
should be mixed to a smooth paste witt
warm water-boiling water destroys tn
essential oil of the mustard and render
it il less efficacious-and then spread a
l thinly as possible on apiece of stout cot
ton, covered with muslin and applied
In ten minutes a corner should b.
raised, the state of the skin in
spected and, if very red, the plaste
removed. 1t is not desirable to rails
a blister, as one made by mustard j
more painful than any other. 1t is SAT-
that when mixed with the white of a.
I egg, it will not blister. Flannel dippe,
in vinegar and thickly sprinkled wit
red pepper, makes a stimulating appli
sstion, that is also free from this objec
ton. An admirable plaster for a swelle
breast is made by melting together
piece of resin the size of an egg and
lump of mutton talIow as large as
nutmeg; let them remain n 1.-the stow
for an hour, and when taken from tn
fire, stir in the yelk of an egg. Hav
ready a piece of cotton the proper size
cut round and with a hole in the middle
spread the mixture on it, cover wit
part of an old handkerchief, shaped lik
the cotton, and apply warm to tn
breast. 1t usually gives great RELIEF
and may be left on three or four days
When a doctor orders a blister, b
generally sends one ready prepare
from an ~apothecary's shop, OF a bottl
of blistering fluid, which only require
to be painted on the spot where tn
blister is to be raised. 1t must not b
applied where the skin is broken; tn
surface should be washed, and, if nc
too tender, rubbed with a rough towel
The time required for it to rise varies i
different persons; it is usually from 81
to twelve hours. If it is very slow, it ca
be fastened by putting on a war;
poultice; the vesicles will then b
larger, and less painful. When tn
blister is raised, if it is intended to le
it heal, the skin must not be removed
but shipped carefully in n place wit
a pair of sharp scissors, and the f1ui
that. has accumulated allowed to escape
then dressed with a piece of soft line
spread with lard or vaseline. If it is t
be kept open, the skin must be careful
ly cut around the edge and taken of
the surface being dressed with an
stimulating ointment the physical
orders. In either case the place mu:
be washed every morning by gent
squeezing tepid water over it from
sponge, a basin or thickly folded tow,
being placed underneath, to absorb IL
moisture. The ointment must be a,
piled again as at first.-Etizabeh RO,
inson Scout, in Country Gentleman.
Color Blindness.