Poultices

(pole’-tis-es). One of the most important items of nursing treatment. If glycerine is applied to the skin before the poultice, it prevents any particles from adhering. Linseed Meal Poultice.—Warm the basin with hot water, throw this out, pour in the nece ary quantity of boiling water, take the meal in the left hand, and sprinkle it in quickly, stirring the while with a warmed spatula in the right hand. The poultice should be stiff enough to keep the knife or spatula upright when the stirring stops. Spread with a knife dipped in hot water, on pulled tow, brown paper, or old cotton rag, to the thickne of half an inch, leaving a margin of rag to turn over the edges of the poultice. Apply next the skin, cover, and bandage on with a flannel bandage. Change every four hours; never take off one poultice till the next is ready to apply. Mustard Poultice.—One part of mustard to seven or eight of linseed meal; put a piece of muslin between the poultice and the skin, leave it until the skin is well reddened, but not long enough to raise a blister. Charcoal Poultice.—Mix one ounce of powdered charcoal to a bread poultice, and powder the surface with charcoal. Used for offensive wounds. Bread Poultice.—Steep some crumbs of bread in boiling water; strain off the water, spread the bread on lint and apply. Bran Poultice.—Make a flannel bag the required size; fill it with bran heated in the oven or steeped in boiling water, and apply. Jacket Poultice.—A linseed meal poultice made in two parts for the front and back of the chest, and meeting on the shoulders and under the arms. Used in double pneumonia. — s. 126 —