COLD AND HEAT 715 



Spongio-pilene occurs in sheets, about an incH in thickness, 

 made of a mixture of sponge and felt, backed with a flexible 

 covering of gutta-percha. Its main objection is the expense. 

 It forms, when soaked in water, a cleanly and easily applied 

 poultice for non-suppurating parts. 



Counter-irritation, as has been pointed out, is produced 

 by hot poulticing as well as by drugs. A combination of the 

 two is obtained in stupes. 



Stupes, Stupa.—A. stupe consists of a flannel or other 

 cloth, wrung out in plain or medicated hot water, and ap- 

 plied to the skin. These are often covered by waterproof 

 protection, the better to retain heat. In the veterinary art, 

 hot blankets are often applied over the whole chest or abdo- 

 men to relieve internal congestion and pain in pleuritis, 

 pneumonia and colic. Turpentine stupes are more in favor 

 with abdominal troubles. These are made by simply sprink- 

 ling oil of turpentine over the hot blankets, or by saturating 

 flannel cloths in turpentine and wringing them out in very 

 hot water. To get a very active counter-irritant effect, a 

 mustard paste may be rubbed over the chest, and then hot 

 blankets applied. 



Sot Water Bags, made of rubber, and enclosing water at 

 a temperature of 120° F., may be placed along the spine, and 

 by stimulating the cord and sympathetic ganglia, cause sti- 

 Tnulation of the vaso-constrictors in regions corresponding to 

 the controlling areas over which the heat is applied. In this 

 manner inflammatory conditions of the throat, chest, and 

 abdomen are said to have been aborted, and internal haemor- 

 rhage effectually arrested. Conversely, cold may be used 

 over the spine to dilate distal arterioles. 



Fomentations are simply local baths. As technically 

 employed, the word refers to bathing parts with plain or 

 medicated hot water, by means of sponge or cloths. They 

 may be used to cleanse wounds or parts of dried discharges ; 

 they act as counter-irritants if very hot, or as mild, stimulat- 

 ing, soothing and softening applications if warm. In order 

 to prfyduce much effect, besides a mere detergent one, they 



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