Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-08-06
CARE OF THE SICK.
gc.1.iccs, Piasters and B,isters How
They are Prepared.

Gc.1.tccs, Piasters and Bisters - How
They are Prepared.
Poulticc1 are used in so many cases
that it Is very important to know how
to msle and apply them properly.
They are intsnded 20 convey warmth
and moisture to the parts affected, and
20 must not be made too dry. nor al
lowed to grow cold before being put on.
a wet. sloppy poultice is almost as OBJ
iectioaable as dry, hard one, and
little care VIII enable one to attain the
Happy medium. Flaxseed meal is the
best material for poultice; it is not
always st hand in a country house, and
then a substitute must be found for it.
If many poultices are likely to be re-
quired, a. in peritontis, or infamma-
ton OF the bowels, it is well to buy a
few pounds. for nothing can SatiSfac-
torily replace it. If it has not been APP
pied TO an open surface where there
Is a discharge of matter, the flaXseed
can be scraped from the cotton and
heated AGAIN, adding q little water if
too stiff, or more meal if there is not
enough. 70 make it. have ready suf-
tic.ent quantity of boiling water in a
saucepan 1.-TWO teacupfuls viii
make good-sized poulticc). and
into this stir enough of the
mealto 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 poultice is to be when APP
piled, and a small piece of thin muslin.
Dip spoon in boiling water, and spread
the ilaXsccd evenly on the cotton, leav-
ing at least two inches of margin on all
sides: Law the muslin on top of the
pouiticc. and fold the margin neatly over
ii. This prevents the possibility of the
naxsacd oozing out. Nopoultice or plas-
ter should ever be directly applied to the
skin; there should always be layer of
Muslin, old linen, fine cambria. OF
some thin fabric, between, to prevent
the skin from being sOiled, and to max,
it more easy TO remove the application.
Carrots, boiled soft and smoothly
mashed, make good poultice, and
turnipS prepared ia the same way are
sometimes used. These must be spread
quickly, or they Will 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 TOD
cradle substitute for flaXseed, and is i'm
proved by the addition OF third part
of slippery elm. Bread is Il good ma
tcral for a small poultice; it should be
stale and only the crumbs used. Crum-
bic it between the fingers, and
pour over it enough boiling milk
or water 10 mOiSten it thoroughly.
When roultice is intended to relieve
pain, small quantity of laudanum is
sprinklcd on the surface. If it is APP
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
nesscs of flannel, to retain the heat.
Before applying it, lest it with the
finger; if it f>els uncomfOrtably warm,
1t 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 a smooth paste with
warm boiling water destroys the
essential oil of the mustard and renders
it less cllcacious and then spread as
thinly as possible on apiece Of stout cot
ton, covered with muslin and applied.
In ten minutes Il corner should be
Spectcd anu II very fcu' Ile PlaS!et