LARYNGITIS. 249 



Steaming the Head. — Warm moisture, brought into 

 immediate contact with the mucous membrane of the larynx (a 

 membrane which is naturally delicate and highly sensitive), 

 must prove extremely grateful to patients affected with Laryn- 

 gitis. 



The proper mode of doing it is to obtain a large bag, having 

 only a sufficient width at the top to admit of the lower half of 

 the head of the patient to pass within. Into this bag is placed 

 a hot bran mash, or a quantity of hay upon which boiling water 

 has been poured. The bag is made secure to the patient by a 

 tie passing from its sides over the head, immediately behind the 

 ears. The contents of the bag should be shaken occasionally, 

 to liberate the confined steam. 



In preparing the steaming apparatus, attention should be 

 paid to the following particulars : 1st. — The bag ought to be 

 made of coarse material (horse-hair bags are well adapted for 

 this purpose), so as to readily admit the air to pass through its 

 sides. 2nd. — It should be of sufficient length to prevent the 

 nose of the patient from being scalded. 3rd. — The lower third 

 of the bag should be lined with tarred canvass, or some mate- 

 rial, to prevent the hot water from escaping. 4th. — The tie 

 which holds the bag to the head should be two inches wide, and 

 made of leather. 



Blistering the Neck. — The generality of veterinary 

 authors recommend the neck of the patient to be blistered, 

 immediately upon the determination of the disease. To this, 

 however, I demur ; it is better to withhold it for a time, except 

 in those cases which are attended with the formation of an 

 Abscess between the lower jaws. In cases of this kind, it is 

 proper to apply a blister at once, but only to the part imme- 

 diately over the Abscess. A blister so applied hastens suppura- 

 tion materially. The disease, in spite of what may be done, 



