the edge of the inflamed part with a little zinc ointment. The object
being to protect the adjacent tissues from the action of the poultice,
which has a tendency to develop fresh boils. They should be spread
upon a warm cloth, and the part coming next to the skin should be
covered with very thin gauze or muslin, so that it will not stick to the
surface and can be removed all at once. When a poultice is applied,
cover it with oil silk, rubber cloth or flannel. Keep it firmly fastened
to the place it is intended to cover, and replace it with a fresh one
before it gets cold.
Poultices are made of various substances ; the most common are lin-
seed meal, elm bark, bread, etc. To make a linseed meal poultice, rinse
a bowl or basin with boiling water to heat it ; then pour in sufficient
boiling water ; with one hand sprinkle the meal into the bowl and with
the other stir the mixture constantly with a spoon until sufficient meal
has been added to make a thin and smooth dough. This should be
done rapidly, otherwise the poultice will cool in making. The meal
should always be added to the water with constant stirring, for if the
water be added to the meal the two ingredients will not be well blended
and a lumpy mass will result. To make a bread poultice, cut stale
bread into thick slices, and pour enough boiling water over it to cover ;
place by the fire and allow it to simmer for a short time ; then strain off
the excess of water and spread on a hot cloth.
When it is desired to produce a strong counter-irritation, a poultice
of mustard mixed with equal parts of meal is a good application. By
mixing the mustard with the white of an egg✪ Mustard Poultice, the result may be obtained
quicker, and the application will not produce a blister, as mustard may
do if otherwise mixed. Fomentations are used in cases where poultices
are not available or are not easily applied. An ordinary fomentation is
a thick piece of flannel immersed in boiling water, removed and wrung
dry as possible, applied to the skin and covered with oil silk or rubber
cloth. There is an article made for this purpose, called spongio-pialine,
consisting of fine sponge and wool matted together and covered with a
rubber coating. This is available at all times and can be used repeat-
edly without destroying the texture.
A turpentine fomentation is made by steeping a piece of linen or lint
in oil of turpentine. When applied to the skin, cover with a flannel
heated as hot as can be borne, or wring a flannel out of hot water and
sprinkle the turpentine upon it and apply. This is frequently more
effectual than a mustard plaster.
When it is desired to apply dry heat, a thin piece of flat tile may be
heated and used. If that is not at hand, a common earthenware plate,
heated in the oven and enveloped in flannel, will retain its heat for some
time. A heated brick will sometimes answer the purpose ; so also will
stone bottles filled with hot water ; or hot salt in a bag- is applied to the
HOP AND HEMLOCK PILLO WS. 253
Page 223 · 3 recipe records on this page
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
the edge of the inflamed part with a little zinc ointment. The object being to protect the adjacent tissues from the action of the poultice, which has a tendency to develop fresh boils. They should be spread upon a warm cloth, and the part coming next to the skin should be covered with very thin gauze or muslin, so that it will not stick to the surface and can be removed all at once. When a poultice is applied, cover it with oil silk, rubber cloth or flannel. Keep it firmly fastened to the place it is intended to cover, and replace it with a fresh one before it gets cold.
Poultices are made of various substances ; the most common are linseed meal, elm bark, bread, etc. To make a linseed meal poultice, rinse a bowl or basin with boiling water to heat it ; then pour in sufficient boiling water ; with one hand sprinkle the meal into the bowl and with the other stir the mixture constantly with a spoon until sufficient meal has been added to make a thin and smooth dough. This should be done rapidly, otherwise the poultice will cool in making. The meal should always be added to the water with constant stirring, for if the water be added to the meal the two ingredients will not be well blended and a lumpy mass will result. To make a bread poultice, cut stale bread into thick slices, and pour enough boiling water over it to cover ; place by the fire and allow it to simmer for a short time ; then strain off the excess of water and spread on a hot cloth.
When it is desired to produce a strong counter-irritation, a poultice of mustard mixed with equal parts of meal is a good application. By mixing the mustard with the white of an egg, the result may be obtained quicker, and the application will not produce a blister, as mustard may do if otherwise mixed. Fomentations are used in cases where poultices are not available or are not easily applied. An ordinary fomentation is a thick piece of flannel immersed in boiling water, removed and wrung dry as possible, applied to the skin and covered with oil silk or rubber cloth. There is an article made for this purpose, called spongio-pialine, consisting of fine sponge and wool matted together and covered with a rubber coating. This is available at all times and can be used repeatedly without destroying the texture.
A turpentine fomentation is made by steeping a piece of linen or lint in oil of turpentine. When applied to the skin, cover with a flannel heated as hot as can be borne, or wring a flannel out of hot water and sprinkle the turpentine upon it and apply. This is frequently more effectual than a mustard plaster.
When it is desired to apply dry heat, a thin piece of flat tile may be heated and used. If that is not at hand, a common earthenware plate, heated in the oven and enveloped in flannel, will retain its heat for some time. A heated brick will sometimes answer the purpose ; so also will stone bottles filled with hot water ; or hot salt in a bag- is applied to the
HOP AND HEMLOCK PILLO WS. 253
Records on this page
Mustard PoulticeLinseed Meal PoulticeBread Poultice