FOMENTATIONS. 155 



Poultices to the Abdomen. — To apply a poultice to the 

 abdomen, or to any part of it, another arrangement of canvass 

 or cloth than the one described will be necessary. A poultice 

 cloth for this purpose should be made of a form and size to 

 correspond to the body of the animal. Broad straps should 

 pass from underneath the body and buckle along the top of the 

 back, similar in form to an article called the Body Sacking, an 

 engraving of which is appended to the article treating upon 

 inflammation of the bowels. 



Fomentations. — Eomentations, so far as they act upon the 

 living tissues, are like poultices in almost every respect. If 

 fomentations are applied to surfaces which are inflamed, they 

 soften the tension and hardness of the structures involved. 

 Like poultices, their virtues consist in afl'ording a continued 

 supply of heat and moisture. 



Many individuals consider fomentations to possess little or 

 no virtue, unless medicated with various herbs and plants. I 

 believe that no advantage whatever occurs from, the use of such 

 fluids beyond what is aff'orded by their heat and moisture. 



The best fomentation to wounds and injuries of delicate 

 tissues and structures, is steam. I have proved this in numerous 

 instances. If the reader will procure my " Principles and 

 Practice of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery," and read from 

 pages 130 to 133, he will obtain important information upon 

 the matter, and also see a woodcut representing an apparatus 

 to use for the generation and application of steam.* 



Por a diseased part to receive the full benefit of a warm 

 fomentation it is necessary the operation should be continued 

 from one to two hours at a time, the water all the while being 

 maintained at a high temperature. 



* Principles and Practice of Veterinary Medicine and Siu-gery, by W. 

 Havcock. London : J. Clnircliill. 



