708 FOMENTATIONS 



Antiseptic fomentations are used to cleanse wounds and 

 soften hard skin or encrusted discharges. They relax and 

 soothe irritated, congested, inflamed parts to which they are 

 applied, and thus lessen tension and pain. When freely 

 employed for some considerable time, they dilate the 

 capillaries of collateral areas of circulation, withdraw blood 

 from adjacent inflamed parts, and act as mild counter- 

 irritants. To obtain their full benefits, they should be 

 continued during several hours ; fresh supplies of water, 

 of the requisite temperature, being had in abundance. 

 After the operation is finished, the parts should be dried, 

 and well covered, in order to prevent the rapid diminution 

 of temperature which otherwise ensues from evaporation. 

 Further, to prevent chilling, the fomented surface is some- 

 times stimulated with a weak mustard paste or mild 

 liniment. 



Heat applied to the spine, usually in the form of the 

 hot-water bag, at a temperature of 120 Fahr., stimulates 

 the cord and sympathetic ganglia, contracts the involuntary 

 muscular fibres of arterioles, and thus lessens the volume 

 and rapidity of blood passing through them. The spinal 

 hot-bag is hence used to arrest haemorrhage. 



The ice-bag applied to the spine, on the other hand, is a 

 sedative to the cord and nerve-centres brought under its 

 paralysing influence, and hence lowers muscular tone, 

 sensibility, and secretion. Applied in the cervical region, 

 it increases afflux of blood to the head ; applied over the 

 anterior dorsal region, blood is driven to the chest and 

 anterior extremities ; applied over the posterior dorsal and 

 lumbar regions, blood is moved in larger amount through 

 the abdominal and pelvic organs, and the posterior ex- 

 tremities. Acting upon the spinal and sympathetic centres, 

 the ice-bag controls remote morbid processes ; cramps and 

 spasms are stated to be abated ; pains of neuralgia and 

 rheumatism are sometimes arrested ; while inordinate dis- 

 charge, and even haemorrhage from the lungs, bowels, or 

 kidneys, are sometimes checked (Ringer). 



Antiseptic compresses, consisting of several layers of lint 

 or cotton wool thoroughly saturated with an antiseptic 

 solution, are frequently applied to sutured operation wounds. 



