Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-23
BJTTON THESE DAYSACTON AS v
THE GOOD HEALTH
QUESTION BOX

BY DIR. JOHN HARVEY KELLOGG

| by Dh, JOhN hAhNEi hELLOOu
THERE are few simple applications OF
l. water treatments that every one ought
to know how to make. There Is the "fomen-
tation," for example which Is most useful
in cases where there is local pain without
excessive heat or evidences Of acute inham-
nation, in neuralgia, pleursy, ETC. and also
in cases Of indignation, collie, constipation
and especially rheumatic pains.
In relieving sick HEADACHE the application
OF hot water to the head, neck and stomach
| generally affords great relief and shortens
the attack The fermentation may also rem
der service in cases Of shock or fainting
II should be applied to the head so as to
| stimulate the brain.
| A fermentation Is an application Of heat
by means Of a wooden cloth wrung out Of
| hot water. Wooen undergarments answer
| very well in an emergency. A thick mass
! OF cheesecloth or several towels will answer
| the purpose when nothing else is available.
The cloth should be large enough 50 that
| when folded three or four thCknesses II
! will cover an area several times larger than
! the painful part II is a common fault 10
! make the application too small The more
! intense the pain, the larger the area which
must be covered by the fermentation II the
! affected part involves an area the size Of
| the hand the fermentation should cover a
/
/ good effect depends much upon the size Of
! the surface covered. A pain confined 10 r
! point not larger than n nnRertp II acute
| and persistent, may require for it's relief an
| application covering one or two square feet
In addition TO the flannel used for the
| fermentation, "a much larger dry flannel or
| blanket and piece OF macintosh should he
| at hand 60 cover the moist cloth. so as to
! retain the heat Two or three large towels
| are also needed
To apply the fermentation, grasp the
! wooen cloth by the ends, dip the whole in
! very hot water until completely saturated
| and heated to the temperv' .re Of the water
! then wiring it over the pail by twisting
| lengthwise A convenient method is par
tally TO unfold the cloth, dip one end into
the water, and fold together again in such a
way that the dry portion will be on the out
side. Then, by wringinR. the dry part will
become saturated by the absorption Of
water from the wet portion BY using an
extra large fermentation cloth, the central
portion only may be wet leaving the ends
dry to be grasped by the hands for twist
ing and wrlnging
The intensity of the application and the
length Of time the fermentation will retain
its heat will depend upon the amount as
vel as the temperature Of the water.
When very hot water Is used the cloth
must be wrung very dry, otherwise there
will be danger Of blistering.
Another precaution which II is well 10
observe is TO place a dry flannel next the
skin, so that the heat Of the fermentation
may reach the skin gradually. More water
may be left in the fermentation and a higher
temperature may be employed when the skin
is thus protected
When the fermentation cloth IL removed
for renewal the dry wrappings should be
quickly replaced and the cloth wrung out
Of hot water and replaced as quickly as
possible, so that the surface will not be-
come chilled by evaporation. and the effect
OF the fermentation be thus neutralized
The duration If the fermentation must de-
pend upon various conditions, most Of all
upon the patients own sensations, espe-
cially when il is applied for the relief Of
pain.
The beneficial effects Of the fermentation
should be still apparent several hours
after tho application. II To- symptoms re-
turn after having been relieved the an
pliCation may be renewed
Occasionally, continuous application for
an hour or more is necessary, especially in
cases in which acute pain is present So
long as the pain or other urgent symptoms
are relieved by the application and re-
turn when removed, the application may
he continued. Every half hour, however
the hot compress should be replaced by
well-wrung, cold, wet towel for one or two
minutes.
In concluding the treatment a cold APP
phcatlon should always be made This
usually consists Of a towel wrung very dry
out Of cold water; the colder the water the
better, This should be applied quickly over
the whole surface which has been reddened
by the fermentation, and should be retained
IN place for thirty to sixty seconds II
should then be removed and the part rubbed
slightly and covered with dry flannel