494 THE TREATMENT OP ^/SEASES. 



girls j 20 and 22 inch, suitable for women; 24 and 26 inch, suitable for men. The 

 bags are divided into cells usually three. By this arrangement the ice is pre- 

 vented from falling to the bottom, and can be kept accurately in contact with all 

 parts of the spine. It is of importance not to fill the cells sufficiently to make them 

 round, or only a small portion of the bag will touch the skin. The mouths of all 

 the cells are effectively closed by means of the clamp, so that not a drop of water 

 can escape even when all the ice has melted. Before purchasing it is as well to 

 see that ^he clamp acts properly. Directions for filling and applying accompany 

 each bag, so that 110 difficulty will be experienced on this score. The bag is re- 

 tained in position by means of tapes, or may be sustained in the case of men by 

 buttoning the waistcoat and coat lightly over it, or, in the case of women, by 

 tightening the dress in like manner. When properly secured the wearer need not 



remain lying down, but is able to 

 sit up or walk about as usual. For 

 short passages the bag should be 

 filled before starting, but on most 

 of the trans- Atlantic steamers ice 

 is obtainable in any quantity, and 

 the bag may be replenished as 

 necessity indicates. Each bagful 

 Fig. 9. SPINAL ICE-BAG. when applied to the back melts in 



about a couple of hours. For the 



passage between Dover and Calais one bagful suffices, and one will be sufficient 

 between Folkestone and Boulogne unless in cases of unusual severity. Between 

 Newhaven and Dieppe three bagfuls are required, and between Dover and Ostend 

 two. As the Channel steamers do not usually carry ice, at all events in sufficient 

 quantities for filling ice-bags, intending passengers should have the bag filled in 

 London, and then wrapped up in a shawl or in flannel vests or petticoats or other 

 non-conductors of heat that may happen to be in their portmanteaus or carpet bags. 

 In warm weather it may be advisable to have the ice-bag packed in a box containing 

 sawdust. For passages of several hours' duration it may be necessary to carry a 

 supply of ice, properly packed by the ice merchant, and an ice-breaker for the 

 purpose of reducing it to fragments. From two to three pounds of ice for every 

 two hours the passage lasts is the quantity required for an adult. People whose 

 liability to sea-sickness is not very great will usually find that the malady may 

 be wholly prevented by the application of the ice-bag as soon as they begin to feel 

 squalmish. In all cases the ice-bag should be placed in immediate contact with the 

 skin, and it is recommended that it should not be brought higher up the spine than 

 the middle of the back of the neck. When the patient is lying down, the ice-bag 

 has a tendency to slip upwards to the back of the head, but this is easily remedied. 

 People who are unusually prone to suffer from sea-sickness should apply the bag 

 immediately on going on board, or before the vessel starts. In the case of women 

 far advanced in pregnancy the bag should not extend as low down as the loins. As 

 auxiliary measures, swallowing little pieces of ice, and the application of a hot-water 

 bottle to the feet, are of importance. 



