Poultices are usually made of linseed meal, oatmeal, or bread, either
combined with water or other fluids; sometimes they are made of
carrots, charcoal, potatoes, yeast, and linseed meal, mustard, &c.,
but the best and most economical kind of poultice is a fabric made of
sponge and wool felted together, and backed by Indian rubber, called
"spongio piline."
The method of using this poultice is as follows:--A piece of the
material of the required form and size is cut off, and the edges are
pared or bevelled off with a pair of scissors, so that the caoutchouc
may come in contact with the surrounding skin, in order to prevent
evaporation of the fluid used; for, as it only forms the vehicle, the
various poultices generally used can be employed with much less
expenditure of time and money, and increased cleanliness.
For example,--a _vinegar_ poultice is made by moistening the fabric
with distilled vinegar; an _alum_ poultice, by using a strong solution
of alum; a _charcoal_ poultice, by sprinkling powdered charcoal on the
moistened surface of the material; a _yeast_ poultice, by using warmed
yeast, and moistening the fabric with hot water, which is to be well
squeezed out previous to the absorption of the yeast; a _beer_
poultice, by employing warm porter-dregs or strong beer as the fluid;
and a _carrot_ poultice, by using the expressed and evaporated liquor
of boiled carrots.
Spongio-piline costs about one farthing a square inch, and may be
obtained of the chemist. As a fomentation it is most invaluable, and
by moistening the material with compound camphor liniment or
hartshorn, it acts the same as a mustard poultice.
[TO-MORROW, DIES IN ANGUISH AND DESPAIR.]