Part 17

Nutritive enema, 100° F. Stimulating enema, 116° F. Cleansing enema, 100° F.

MUSTARD PLASTER.

Mustard, 1 tablespoonful; Flour, 3 tablespoonfuls; Glycerin, 1 tablespoonful; Baking soda (dissolved in hot water), 1 teaspoonful.

Beat well and spread between two layers of muslin or soft linen. Apply from 15 to 30 minutes.

MUSTARD POULTICE.

Mustard, 2 parts; Ground flaxseed, 4 “ Hot water, a sufficient quantity.

FLAXSEED POULTICE.

Ground flaxseed, ½ cupful; Olive oil, 2 teaspoonfuls.

Add enough boiling water to make a thick paste. Cook for a few minutes, and beat thoroughly.

ONION POULTICE.

Slice a large onion and fry in lard or olive oil. Place between layers of soft cloth. It should not be warmed over.

TURPENTINE STUPES.

1. Add 3 teaspoonfuls of oil of turpentine to 1 pint of boiling water. Immerse the flannel and stir. Remove the flannel, wring it out in a twisted towel until it no longer drips. Anoint the skin with olive oil, and then apply fomentation until it causes some discomfort or redness. If allowed to remain too long, it will blister the skin.

2. Oil of turpentine, 1 part; Olive oil, 7 parts.

Apply with applicator or soft cloth every 4 or 6 hours, and fomentations p. r. n.

SPICE POULTICE.

Powdered cloves; powdered ginger; powdered cinnamon, of each from 1 to 2 teaspoonfuls; flour, a tablespoonful; whisky, enough to make a paste sufficiently soft to spread on flannel.

CANTHARIDES BLISTER.

Cantharides is used for this purpose, either as a plaster or in liquid form; that is, in the form of vesicating collodion. Its most frequent use is as a plaster, rarely over one and a half inches square. Scrub the parts well with soap and water, and dry and rub with a soft cloth until the skin is red, then apply the plaster and bandage lightly, so there may be plenty of room for the formation of the blister. Vesication is produced generally within four to eight hours; if it is not, the plaster should be removed and the operation completed by applying a poultice. Great care should be exercised when blistering patients suffering from kidney affections. Cantharides is an acute irritant, and not infrequently causes strangury or acute nephritis. When the cantharidal collodion is used the space to be covered is outlined with oil to prevent spreading; the collodion is applied with a camel’s hair brush or other applicator, and covered with a layer of soft lint and oil silk.

Dressing the Blister.—Puncture the lower part of the bleb; absorb the fluid with a piece of soft cotton; anoint with pure vaselin, and apply a soft dressing. Bandage lightly.

Sometimes it is desirable to have the fluid reabsorbed into the system, in which case precautions must be taken to prevent the blister from rupturing.

APPLICATIONS FOR PEDICULOSIS (LICE).

1. Pulverized larkspur seed, ℥j (30 gm.);

2. Pulverized sabadilla seed, ℥j (30 gm.); Boiling water, Oj (500 c.c.).

One application of these infusions is usually sufficient.

3. Kerosene oil is a cheap and excellent application; it also removes dandruff: Rub lightly upon the scalp for one or two nights and follow in the morning by a shampoo of soap and water. To destroy the nits apply hot vinegar every other day.

4. Wash hair and scalp thoroughly with a good soap, then saturate hair with hot vinegar and tie up securely. Repeat for a few days.

HAIR TONICS.