firm pressure be made upon
the part, no serious loss of blood can ensue before his arrival.

Leeches should never be resorted to by a parent for any of the
diseases of infancy, without medical direction.

Sect. V.--BLISTERS AND POULTICES.

A blister should never be applied for any infantile disease, except
when ordered by a medical man, as its injudicious use might greatly
aggravate the complaint.

There are also one or two precautions in reference to the mode of the
application of a blister, which it is always right for a parent to
attend to. From the great irritability of the skin, it should never be
allowed to remain on longer than from two to four hours. At the
expiration of this time, the surface will usually become red and
inflamed; and, if the blister is removed, and the part dressed with
fresh spermaceti ointment spread on lint, or with a soft bread and
water poultice, a full blister will soon be raised: the little patient
is thus saved much suffering, and a very troublesome sore prevented. A
piece of tissue or silver paper, interposed between the blister and the
skin, will answer the same purpose; the blister will act well, and the
evils before alluded to will be prevented.

After a blister has been two or three hours applied, its edge should
be carefully raised, to ascertain the effect produced; and if the
surface be much inflamed, more particularly if little points of
vesication (watery bladders) are present, it should be removed, and the
above directions attended to.

Mustard poultices are invaluable in some of the diseases of infancy
and childhood, and therefore frequently ordered.

A mustard poultice is made by mixing two thirds of mustard flour and
one third of wheaten flour with warm water or vinegar, in sufficient
quantity to render the powder of the consistence of paste. It is then
spread on linen from the size of a half-crown to that of the palm of
the hand, according to the effect intended, and placed on the skin. How
long it is to be kept on will depend upon the individual sensibility of
the skin of the child; but, in general, from fifteen to twenty minutes
will be found amply sufficient. The application, however, must at all
times be carefully watched; for if it remain on too long, ulceration,
and death of the part, might ensue; therefore, directly the skin is
found tolerably red, the poultice should be removed. After its removal,
the part may be exposed, or, if very painful, smeare