The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-07-02
CARE OF THE SICK.
PouItices, Plasters ard Blisters - How
$50 They are Prepared.

to make and apply them properly
They are 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 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 substitute must be found for it.
If many poultices are likely to be re-
quired, as in per1tonits, or inflamma-
ton of the bowels, it is well to buy
few pounds, for nothing can satisfae-
torily replace it. Ii it has not been APP.
piled to an open surface where there
is discharge of matter, the tlaxseed
can be scraped from the cotton and
heated again, adding little water if
too stiff, or more meal if there is not
enough. To make it, have ready suf-
ficient quantity of boiling water in
saucepan 1.-TWO teacupfuls will
make good-sized poultice), and
into this stir enough of the
meal to make a soft, thick paste. By
stirring in one direction, and putting
in the meal gradually, there will be no
Jumps. 1t need not boil after the flax
seed is in. Have ready piece of old
cotton, about two inches larger each
way than the poultiee is to be when APP
piled, anda small piece of thin muslin.
Dip spoon in boiling water, and spread
the flaxseed 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
faxseed oozing out. No poultice or plas-
ter should ever be directly applied to the
skin; there should always be 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 good poultice, and
turnips prepared in the same way are
sometimes used. These must be spread
quickly, or they viii cool too rapidly.
Onions boiled in water to which 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 toll
cradle substitute for faxseed, and is i'm
proved by the addition OF 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-
BILE it between the fingers, and
pour over it enough boiling milk
or water to mo;sten it thoroughly.
When poultice is intended to- relieve
pain, a small quantity of laudanum is
sprinkled on the surface. If it is ap-
piled when there is an offensive DIS
charge, powered charcoal is used in the
same way, or Tablespoonful of carbolic
acid solution is put into the water with
which it is made. A poultice ought to
be removed every two hours at least,
and covered with piece of oiled silk,
India rubber cloth, or several thick
nesses of flannel, to retain the heat.
Before applying it, test it with the
finger; if it feels uncomfortable warm,
it is certainly too hot to lay on a sick
person. When gentle stimulant is re.
quired, mustard plaster is generally
used. Equal parts of mustard and
wheat flour is good proportion. They
should be mixed to smooth paste witt
warm water-boilng water destroys the
essential oil of the mustard and render.
it less etficacious-and then spread as
thinly as possible on apiece of stout cot
ton, covered with muslin and applied
In ten minutes corner should be
raised, the state of the skin In.
spected and, if very red. the plaster
removed. 1t is not desirable to raise
blister, as one made by mustard is
more painful than any other. It is SAID
that when mixed with the white OF an
egg, it will not blister Flannel dipped
in vinegar and thickly sprinkled with
red pepper, makes stimulating appli.
cation, that is also free from this -obiec,
ton. An admirable plaster for swelled
breast is made by melting together 9
piece of resin the size of an egg and g
lump of mutton tallow as large s.y a
nutmeg; let them remain on the stove
for an hour. and when taken from the
fire, stir in the yelk of an egg. Have
ready a piece of cotton the proper SIZE
cut round and with a hole in the middle.
spread the mixture on it, cover viii
part of an old handkerchief, shaped like
the cotton, and apply warm to the
breast. 1t usually gives great relief,
and may be left on three or four DAYS.
When doctor orders blister. he
generally sends one ready prepared
from an apothecary's shop, or a bottle
OF blistering fluid, which only requires
to be painted on the spot where the
blister is to be raised 1t must not be
applied where the skin is broken, the
surface should be washed, and, if not
too tender, rubbed with rough towel.
The time required for it to rise varies in
different persons; it is usually from six
to twelve hours. If it is very slow, it can
oe fastened by putting on a warm
poultice; the vesicles will then be
larger, and less painful. When the
blister is raised, if it is intended to let
1t heal, the skin must not be removed.
but shipped carefully in one place with
q pair of sharp scissors, and the fluid
that has accumulated allowed to escape.
then dressed with piece of soft linen
spread with lard or vaseline. If it is to
be kept open, the skin must be careful
~ cut around the edge and taken off
the surface being dressed with apy