passed
off is so great that a cotton or ordinary linen bandage may fail, as
being too impervious, when a flannel bandage will succeed. A Kneipp
linen bandage is perfectly porous, and will not irritate the skin as
flannel often does. Worn-out underwear can be kept for this purpose.

If stronger heat seems to be needed, a soft cloth four-ply thick, large
enough to cover the whole lower back, should be dipped in CAYENNE
LOTION (_see_), slightly squeezed, and placed on the back. Over this a
dry cloth should be placed, and the patient should lie down on a bran
poultice or hot-water bag for an hour or two. Afterwards the back
should be rubbed with olive oil, and a band of soft new flannel worn
round the body.

Even if the swelling is caused by rupture this treatment is the best.
The rupture must be reduced (_see_ Rupture) and sustained by a proper
truss, for which the patient should apply to a responsible surgical
instrument maker. This treatment alone has cured many dropsical
patients. Where failure of the heart's action complicates the trouble,
this treatment will usually relieve the heart as well as kidneys. For
drink in such cases see article Drinks. For food give whatever is most
easily digested and passed into good blood. Wheaten-meal food, oatmeal
jelly, etc., are good. _See also_ Biscuits and Water.

Drowning.--Many valuable lives have been saved by an elementary
knowledge of what to do in the case of one apparently suffocated or
drowned.

Commence treatment immediately in the open air, with the face down,
neck and chest exposed, and all tight clothing such as braces removed.

The points to be aimed at are--first and _immediately_, the Restoration
of Breathing; and secondly, after breathing is restored, the promotion
of Warmth and Circulation. The efforts to restore Breathing must be
commenced immediately and energetically, and persevered in for one or
two hours, or until a medical man has pronounced that life is extinct.
Efforts to promote Warmth and Circulation beyond removing the wet
clothes and drying the skin must not be made until the first appearance
of natural breathing, for if circulation of the blood be induced before
breathing has recommenced the restoration to life will be endangered.

[Illustration: Turning on the Chest.]

_First_: Roll the patient over on his chest, with one of the arms under
the forehead, when the water will readily leave the mouth. _Second_: If
breathing does not recommence t