POULTICES AND POULTICING 29 



In this latter connection it is sometimes found necessary to employ such 

 agents as mustard, carbolic acid, charcoal, chlorinated lime, belladonna, 

 opium, &c. &c., and the prescriber who may desire to use them will, of 

 course, give precise instructions, not only as to the agent to be used, but 

 also as to whether it is to be mixed with the poultice, or merely placed 

 upon it so as to rest upon a particular spot, as in the case of certain wounds 

 requiring special agents in application with one part and not the whole. 



When it is intended to apply a poultice, the necessary materials should 

 first receive attention; the novice too often finds himself with a mass of 

 hot bran or linseed and nothing to hand with which to apply it, or he has 

 prepared too much or too little for the purpose. 



To make a Bran Poultice. A clean bowl or basin is always to be 

 preferred to a stable-bucket, unless a very large quantity has to be dealt 

 with. The amount of bran required is put into the bowl, and boiling water 

 added by slow degrees and with constant stirring. Unless it is done in this 

 way there will be portions almost dry or caked together, and the remainder 

 too thin and sloppy. Bran takes up a large amount of water, and with 

 each stirring will receive more until thoroughly saturated. It is better to 

 squeeze out the superfluous moisture through a cloth than to apply your 

 poultice too wet. The rapid evaporation and tendency on the part of bran 

 to become sour is an objection to its use alone, and it is for this reason very 

 commonly combined with an equal portion of linseed flour, or, what is still 

 better, crushed linseed which has not been deprived of the oil. 



A linseed-and-bran poultice prepared in the manner referred to is pro- 

 bably the most serviceable of any, as it has the merit of retaining its 

 wamth and moisture for a long time, while the oil it contains renders it 

 emollient and comforting to the patient. 



Crushed linseed is used alone as a poultice where it is particularly 

 desired for its softening and emollient effect, but it does not retain heat so 

 long as when mixed with bran, and fails to adhere so well. 



Bread is a convenient substitute for meals, and can be more quickly 

 prepared than any other cataplasm. It has just the opposite objections to 

 linseed, in that it sticks to the skin too persistently, easily dries, and is 

 with difficulty removed. 



Bread is improved by the addition of glycerine, the effect of which is to 

 keep it moist for a longer time and prevent it becoming sour. 



Treacle mixed with linseed makes it more adhesive, and what is known 

 as more " drawing ", in its effects. 



Turnips and other roots are boiled until thoroughly soft, mashed, and 

 squeezed in a cloth to get rid of superfluous moisture. When first pre- 

 pared they are very much too hot to be applied with safety, and cool down 



