BANDAGES. 73 



must not be applied, until the acute inflammation has 

 subsided. 



Wet bandages have been used in hunting and racing- 

 stables from time immemorial, and ages before Yincent 

 Priessnitz was born wet bandages were in existence. 



The system of the English groom is to apply as 

 much moisture as possible with the thickest material, 

 and without any dry covering, so that, whether in- 

 flammation exists or not, the vital power of the blood 

 has to contend against enormous loss of caloric and 

 most profuse evaporation. His practice is to bandage 

 with thick flannel, steeped in cold water, applied 

 dripping wet, and when removed, to leave the limb 

 exposed, untouched ; so that a body which has been 

 surrounded with a mass of hot vapour, and in a state 

 of great relaxation, is suddenly left exposed to all 

 the vicissitudes of the atmosphere, after it has been 

 robbed of an immense amount of its vital energies. 



Whereas, the system of the German is to apply a 

 sufficient quantity of moisture to meet the urgency of 

 the case, with a material suitable to contain it, and 

 prove beneficial to the cure. If acute inflammation 

 be not present, the evaporation is stayed by the 

 application of dry bandages upon the wet ; so that the 



