The housekeeper's companion

Sedative Lotions. — When the lotion is intended to act more by its sedative than by its evaporating effects, it will suffice to lay lint or linen soaked in it upon the surface, and cover it with oil silk or guttapercha tissue. Spongio-piline is a convenient medium for the application of sedative or other than evaporative lotions. Care, however, must be taken that it is not put on too wet, or the lotion will drain out and wet the clothing or bedding. A sedative lotion is made by boiling half a pound of fresh hemlock-leaves, or half a dozen poppy heads, in three pints of water down to a pint and a half. Ice. — A greater degree of cold is sometimes required to be applied to a small part of the surface, as in the case of a rupture or in fever when the headache and heat of the head are extreme. A convenient mode of reducing the temperature of a part by ice is to pound some ice and enclose it in a bladder, taking care first to squeeze out the superabundant air, and then tie the neck of the bladder very tightly. The water in the bladder will continue at the temperature of the ice until every particle of it is melted. Fomentations. — Fomentations are of a very great value in the relief of pain of internal organs and of large joints when inflamed. They are part of the nurse's duties which require promptitude and judgment. If a large joint — a knee, for instance — be inflamed, much benefit is derived from swathing the joint in flannels wrung out of hot water, and wrapping these in dry outer flannels. Fomentations likewise are of great use in inflammation of the chest or of the bowels. The hot, wet flannels should be put on quickly, and changed quickly, about every five minutes, so as to avoid exposure to the cold air. They may be continued half an hour or more if they do not fatigue the patient. Wet Sheet. — In fevers with great heat of skin, wrapping the whole body in a wet sheet, and then enclosing in a blanket for an hour or more, will sometimes cause the skin to break into a profuse perspiration, reduce the heat of the skin, and moderate the pulse. In some affections of the kidney, attended with dryness of the skin and absence of perspiration, the wet sheet has been known to restore the action of the skin and relieve the kidneys. The wet sheet is, however, so much ' a part of the hydropathic treatment of disease that it can scarcely be safely or properly used apart from the medical supervision with all the means and appliances of a hydropathic establishment. Poulticing. — So common a thing as a poultice might seem : beneath notice in such a treatise as the present, but some hints ^ may be given thereon to the nurse. Thus, in making a linseedmeal poultice, most persons pour hot water upon the meal. To make a smooth, firm poultice, however, the reverse should be the plan — viz., to stir the meal into the water A poultice should not be too heavy especially if to be applied on the abdomen. It need not be changed oftener than when it gets cold. There are various kinds of poultices — e. g , mustard, yeast, carrot, bran, charcoal, bread. Bread poultice may be used alone, for most small purposes, such as a boiL It will be the basis also of the charcoal and carrot poultices.