taken to refill the ice-bags before the ice has melted. At times a
piece of ice is wrapped in moist lint or old linen and passed gently over
the head in order to cool the head.

[NURSING DEPARTMENT 633]

For Appendicitis.--There should be quite a thickness of cloth between the
ice bag and the skin. The latter must not become too cool. In this disease
this bag is a great reliever of the pain and generally used.

Ice Poultices.--In some cases these are better than the ice bag for the
reason that they fit the body better. They are usually made of two parts
of crushed ice to one of linseed meal or bran, together with a small
amount of salt. Make two bags of oiled silk,--one should be smaller than
the other. Close all sides but one, with adhesive plaster. Fill the
smaller bag two-thirds full of ice, close and slip it into the larger bag.

Ice Water Coils.--These can be bought. They can also be made from rubber
tubing. Sew this upon a piece of rubber cloth in circles about one inch
apart for five or six rounds; leave a yard or two of tubing at each end to
be used as a siphon, A large pan of ice water is raised above the patient
into which one weighted end of the tubing is placed, with a funnel
inserted into it, covered with gauze to prevent clogging, while the other
end is laid in a second basin on the floor which receives the water. The
upper pan must be kept filled. This is very good for delirium in brain
fever, etc., when applied to the head and also good for bleeding from the
bowels in typhoid fever. The stream of water can be regulated if necessary
by a stop-cock.

Lotions.--Lotions are medicated moist applications, and may be either hot
or cold.

Counter--Irritants are agents applied externally to produce irritation or
inflammation in order to relieve a diseased condition in an adjacent or
deep-seated part of the body. Mustard foot-bath relieves pain in the head
by drawing the surplus blood away from the head. The mildest mustard
counter-irritant is the mustard poultice. It can be made with one part
mustard to six of linseed meal. Never use boiling water with mustard.

Mustard Poultice.--Use of ground mustard, one-fourth to one-eighth of the
amount of meal used. Make into a paste and stir this into the linseed,
after it has been prepared for the poultices. The white of an egg is used
in this poultice as it may keep the poultice from blistering.

Yeast Poultices.--These stimulate ulcers, gangrene and sloughing