of the body may be kept hot while carrying to the patient, by placing them in a heated paper or towel. After being heated flannel or towels put in place they should be covered with other warm flannel or cotton of several thicknesses. Bags made of flannel and filled lightly with salt or sand can be heated very hot and will remain so for a considerable time. These are useful for earache or in bass neuralgia of the face. Better for such use is a Japanese hot box or stove, which can be found in almost any place where Japanese goods are sold. It is a little metal box slightly curved on one side and having a hot-box sliding cover to admit a fuse which when lighted will retain its heat for hours. These can be bought in various sizes, ranging in price from ten cents upward.<Callout type="tip" title="Tip">For localized pain, hot compresses (fomentations) or poultices are useful.</Callout> The latter are better if the pain is deep-seated. They can be made of any non-irritating substance which retains heat well. When applied for relief of the deep-seated parts or to hasten suppuration, the poultice ought to be large enough to cover a considerable surface, but if placed directly over a wound it should be only slightly larger than the opening.<Callout type="important" title="Important">After making the poultice it should be taken off between two hot plates. It may then be carefully slipped off on to the inflamed area.</Callout> The skin of a child, an unconscious person or a paralytic is abnormally tender and may be blistered by an application that would produce no such effect upon a healthy adult.<Callout type="warning" title="Warning">Never allow the poultice to become hard and dry, nor should poulticing be long continued, as it may defeat the purpose for which it was applied, by water-soaking the tissues.</Callout> If no directions are given as to the length of time a poultice is to be continued when one has been ordered by the doctor, he should be asked in regard to it.<Callout type="gear" title="Gear">A Japanese hot box or stove can be found in almost any place where Japanese goods are sold.</Callout> HOW TO MAKE A POULTICE To make a linseed poultice Linseed meal is perhaps the most common substance used for the making of poultices. To make a linseed poultice stir the meal slowly into a saucepan of boiling water and let it boil two or three minutes, stirring all the time. It should be thick enough when taken off the fire to be beaten well with a spoon, in order to remove all lumps, and introduce enough air to make it light. This is a very important part of the process, as otherwise the poultice will not have the proper consistency. When finished, it should be light and smooth and just thick enough to be cut with a knife.<Callout type="tip" title="Tip">Sometimes a linseed poultice is made with an antiseptic solution instead of water, and is applied over a discharging wound.</Callout> A bread poultice is made by pouring boiling water over slices of bread, from which the crusts have been cut. When thoroughly soaked, the water is drained off, the softened bread is beaten well and spread.<Callout type="warning" title="Warning">These retain their heat only a short time.</Callout> Dough which has just been mixed is sometimes used as a poultice. It is not necessary that it should be raised at all, as the heat of the body will do that. Starch makes a soothing poultice and is sometimes prescribed in diseases of the skin. It is made by mixing the starch with a little cold water and adding boiling water to make a thick paste.<Callout type="tip" title="Tip">A hop poultice is made by filling a thin bag loosely with hops and wringing it out in hot water.</Callout> Bran may also be treated in the same way. A mustard poultice is made by adding to a linseed or flaxseed poultice one part of mustard to six of the meal.<Callout type="risk" title="Risk">A good substitute for a mustard poultice is said to be a clean flat sponge which has been dipped into mustard paste.</Callout> If this is covered with a thin piece of cloth and applied, it can be removed by moistening the sponge with warm water. A spice poultice is made by mixing a teaspoon each of mustard, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice together, and adding hot water little by little until the mass is of the consistency of putty.<Callout type="important" title="Important">This may be left in place all night without danger of blistering and is a very soothing poultice.</Callout> FOMENTATIONS Fomentations or hot stupes are applications of moist heat by means of flannel or flat sponges wrung out in pure or medicated hot water. This means of applying heat is pleasanter and simpler than the use of poultices, but it is necessary that the cloths be changed as often as every ten or fifteen minutes if the treatment is to be effectual.<Callout type="warning" title="Warning">They must never be left to get cold.</Callout> Two pieces of coarse flannel are better than one. Wringing these are dipped in scalding water, wrung out as dry as possible and quickly applied. A cloth which is cool enough to be wrung out with the hands can do very little good.<Callout type="gear" title="Gear">A stupe-wringer, such as is used in every hospital, is a very convenient article to have in the household and is perfectly simple to make.</Callout> It consists of a stout piece of crash or ticking eighteen by fifteen inches, with a stick or small rod run through a hem at either end. In place of this a strong towel may be used, though it is less convenient, and the hands are apt to get burned if there are no sticks to use in twisting. It is a good plan, when stupes are being used, to have two basins, one containing the hot water and another in which to lay the wet stupe-wringer. Two stupe cloths are necessary, so that one need not be removed until the other is ready to put on.<Callout type="important" title="Important">The first few stupes that are used can not be borne as hot as they can be later.</Callout> INFLAMMATION 76 HOME NURSING When a poultice should be oftener. removed be placed in the palm of the hand and carefully slipped off on to the inflamed area. By so doing there will be no danger of the poultice being applied too hot.<Callout type="warning" title="Warning">The skin of a child, an unconscious person or a paralytic is abnormally tender and may be blistered by an application that would produce no such effect upon a healthy adult.</Callout> After the poultice has been applied, it should be covered with flannel and oiled silk, rubber tissue or enamel cloth to help retain the heat longer. A poultice of ordinary size will keep warm several hours, but a small thin one will need to be changed more frequently.<Callout type="risk" title="Risk">It must never be allowed to become hard and dry, nor should poulticing be long continued, as it may defeat the purpose for which it was applied, by water-soaking the tissues.</Callout> If no directions are given as to the length of time a poultice is to be continued when one has been ordered by the doctor, he should be asked in regard to it. HOW TO MAKE A POULTICE To make a linseed poultice Linseed meal is perhaps the most common substance used for the making of poultices. To make a linseed poultice stir the meal slowly into a saucepan of boiling water and let it boil two or three minutes, stirring all the time. It should be thick enough when taken off the fire to be beaten well with a spoon, in order to remove all lumps, and introduce enough air to make it light. This is a very important part of the process, as otherwise the poultice will not have the proper consistency.<Callout type="tip" title="Tip">When finished, it should be light and smooth and just thick enough to be cut with a knife.</Callout> Sometimes a linseed poultice is made with an antiseptic solution instead of water, and is applied over a discharging wound. A bread poultice is made by pouring boiling water over slices of bread, from which the crusts have been cut. When thoroughly soaked, the water is drained off, the softened bread is beaten well and spread.<Callout type="warning" title="Warning">These retain their heat only a short time.</Callout> Dough which has just been mixed is sometimes used as a poultice. It is not necessary that it should be raised at all, as the heat of the body will do that. Starch makes a soothing poultice and is sometimes prescribed in diseases of the skin. It is made by mixing the starch with a little cold water and adding boiling water to make a thick paste.<Callout type="tip" title="Tip">A hop poultice is made by filling a thin bag loosely with hops and wringing it out in hot water.</Callout> Bran may also be treated in the same way. A mustard poultice is made by adding to a linseed or flaxseed poultice one part of mustard to six of the meal.<Callout type="risk" title="Risk">A good substitute for a mustard poultice is said to be a clean flat sponge which has been dipped into mustard paste.</Callout> If this is covered with a thin piece of cloth and applied, it can be removed by moistening the sponge with warm water. A spice poultice is made by mixing a teaspoon each of mustard, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice together, and adding hot water little by little until the mass is of the consistency of putty.<Callout type="important" title="Important">This may be left in place all night without danger of blistering and is a very soothing poultice.</Callout> FOMENTATIONS Fomentations or hot stupes are applications of moist heat by means of flannel or flat sponges wrung out in pure or medicated hot water. This means of applying heat is pleasanter and simpler than the use of poultices, but it is necessary that the cloths be changed as often as every ten or fifteen minutes if the treatment is to be effectual.<Callout type="warning" title="Warning">They must never be left to get cold.</Callout> Two pieces of coarse flannel are better than one. Wringing these are dipped in scalding water, wrung out as dry as possible and quickly applied. A cloth which is cool enough to be wrung out with the hands can do very little good.<Callout type="gear" title="Gear">A stupe-wringer, such as is used in every hospital, is a very convenient article to have in the household and is perfectly simple to make.</Callout> It consists of a stout piece of crash or ticking eighteen by fifteen inches, with a stick or small rod run through a hem at either end. In place of this a strong towel may be used, though it is less convenient, and the hands are apt to get burned if there are no sticks to use in twisting. It is a good plan, when stupes are being used, to have two basins, one containing the hot water and another in which to lay the wet stupe-wringer. Two stupe cloths are necessary, so that one need not be removed until the other is ready to put on.<Callout type="important" title="Important">The first few stupes that are used can not be borne as hot as they can be later.</Callout> INFLAMMATION 76 HOME NURSING When a poultice should be oftener. removed be placed in the palm of the hand and carefully slipped off on to the inflamed area. By so doing there will be no danger of the poultice being applied too hot.<Callout type="warning" title="Warning">The skin of a child, an unconscious person or a paralytic is abnormally tender and may be blistered by an application that would produce no such effect upon a healthy adult.</Callout> After the poultice has been applied, it should be covered with flannel and oiled silk, rubber tissue or enamel cloth to help retain the heat longer. A poultice of ordinary size will keep warm several hours, but a small thin one will need to be changed more frequently.<Callout type="risk" title="Risk">It must never be allowed to become hard and dry, nor should poulticing be long continued, as it may defeat the purpose for which it was applied, by water-soaking the tissues.</Callout> If no directions are given as to the length of time a poultice is to be continued when one has been ordered by the doctor, he should be asked in regard to it.
Key Takeaways
- Use poultices and hot compresses for treating inflammation.
- Ensure proper consistency when making linseed poultices.
- Change fomentations frequently to maintain effectiveness.
Practical Tips
- Use a Japanese hot box or stove as an alternative heat source for deep-seated pain relief.
- Always cover the poultice with flannel and oiled silk to retain heat longer.
- Be cautious when applying poultices to children, unconscious persons, or paralytics.
Warnings & Risks
- Do not allow poultices to become hard and dry as they can defeat their purpose by water-soaking the tissues.
- Avoid long-term application of poultices without consulting a doctor.
- Be careful when using mustard poultices as they can be too strong for some skin types.
Modern Application
While many of these techniques are still applicable in modern survival scenarios, such as during natural disasters or remote locations with limited medical resources, the availability and safety of modern medications have improved significantly. Understanding how to use traditional methods effectively can complement contemporary first aid practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How should I prepare a linseed poultice?
Stir linseed meal slowly into boiling water in a saucepan, let it boil for two or three minutes, and beat well with a spoon to remove lumps. The mixture should be thick enough to cut with a knife but light and smooth.
Q: What are the risks of using mustard poultices?
Mustard poultices can be too strong for some skin types and may cause irritation or blistering, especially on sensitive areas like the face. Always test on a small area first and avoid long-term application.
Q: How often should fomentations be changed?
Fomentations must be changed every ten to fifteen minutes if they are to be effective in treating inflammation. They must never be left to get cold, as this reduces their effectiveness.