POULTICES. 151 



Poultices are beneficial to use as local applications in 

 strangles and sore throat, to tumours situated within the sub- 

 maxillary space, and in inflammation of the parotid gland ; also 

 in diseases and injuries of the feet, in broken knees, and to 

 injuries of almost every kind and degree. 



Sometimes when applying poultices to the limbs and feet, 

 it is proper to combiue with them a substance to act as a 

 correetiye. This is occasionally required in grease, running 

 thrushes, canker, and even to broken knees. Teast and 

 powdered charcoal are articles of this kind. When yeast is 

 required, it should be prepared as follows : — Measure four or 

 five spoonfuls of yeast into a basin, then add a similar measure 

 of flour, and a little tepid water; stir the contents of the 

 basin well together ; and when fermentation begins, pour the 

 mass to the poultice, the temperature of which should be low, 

 otherwise the heat of the latter will destroy the fermenting 

 power of the yeast. When charcoal is used, all that is required 

 is simply to mis it with the poultice at any temperature the 

 operator may choose. 



In using poultices, attend to the following essentials : — 



I. — Have them bulky ; otherwise the moisture and the 

 high temperature of the mass are speedily gone, without the 

 patient receiving the least benefit from their application. 



II. — To produce their full effect, poultices should be 

 changed every sis or eight hours. 



III. — Poultices should be applied and secured to the part 

 diseased by means of a thick, substantial medium. Leather 

 boots are made for this purpose, when poultices are required 

 to the feet : but an excellent medium to secure a poultice to 



