t 70 Mater ia-Medica. 



POULTICES. 



The action of a poultice is similar to that of a fomen- 

 tation, and often proves an effective auxiliary in the 

 restoration of diseased parts to a state of health. The 

 objects are : — 1. To apply continued heat and moisture 

 in order to soften or cleanse the parts and promote cir- 

 culation and suppuration as conducive to the healing 

 process. 2. To maintain a low temperature or cold as 

 may be required by the nature of the disease. 



As in the case of fomentations, the benefits derived are 

 the results only of continued application. Great care is 

 needed in order to avoid reaction, which always follows 

 alternate heat and cooling ; therefore, when a poultice 

 must be changed, the freshly-prepared one should be at 

 hand to be applied on the removal of the first. The 

 materials should be such as will retain heat and moisture, 

 as bran, the properties of which may be improved by the 

 addition of a small proportion of linseed meal, as |-th or 

 -iVth. Poultices of cowdung, and even human ordure, 

 are the suggestions of filthy minds, and should not be 

 tolerated. We have known repeated instances of blood 

 poisoning follow such applications, the animal dying ot 

 a putrid fever. 



One of the most useful light and effective agents, and 

 at the same time cleanly substitute for a poultice is 

 spongio pitine. It may be used dry or with hot water, the 

 outer sheet of impervious material retaining the heat most 

 satisfactorily. When weight is an objection, as in 

 strangles, the poultice is beneficially replaced by spongio 

 pili?ie. 



Medicated Poultices also claim a brief notice. They 

 consist of the usual materials as bran, linseed meal, &c, 

 to which some remedial agent is added. In the case of 

 wounds of an indolent character, digestives (page 164) 

 are thoroughly incorporated with the mass ; and when 

 offensive odours arise, as in wounds of the feet, &c, 

 antiseptics (page 155) are added, the principal design 

 being to avoid blood poisoning from absorption of putrid 

 material. 



