A universal formulary : containing the methods of preparing and administering officinal and other medicines. / by R. Eglesfeld Griffith.

  • Robert Eglesfeld Griffith
Date:
1851
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A universal formulary : containing the methods of preparing and administering officinal and other medicines. / by R. Eglesfeld Griffith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    —*— morninff Tbcy may be used in winter as well as in summer. In efficacy, tbey are certainly nearly equal to the shower-bath, which may be resorted to in vigorous habits; but when the habit is delicate, and not equal to the reaction, on which the beneficial influence of the shower-bath rests, sponging is preferable. It should not be used when perspiration is present. , , . -, . i i.-^ i rv^ Sponginc^ is as beneficial as the shower-bath, in rendering the habit less susceptible of cold: and, when conjoined with exercise in the open air, and proper regimen, not only asthma, coughs, and catarrhs, may be warded off by its employment, but the pre- disposition to tubercular consumption may be lessened, in a very remarkable degree, by its daily employment. Fomentations.—These may be regarded as a species of local bathing. Although the decoctions usually employed are useful in aiding warmth, by their soothing or sedative influence, yet they are secondary objects in the application of fomentations, the intention being to convey heat, combined with moisture, to the part toment^d. ^ Flannel cloths, wrung out of boiling water, by means of two sticks turned m opposite] directions, form the best fomentations. If they be shaken up, and laid hghtly over - the part, they involve a considerable quantity of air, which, bemg a bad conductor, retains the heat in them for a considerable time. In every process of fomenting, there, should be two flannels, each three yards long, with the ends sewed together to admit of the boiling water being wrung out of them; and the one flanne should be gotj ready whilst the other is applied. The fineness or the coarseness of t^e flannel s not a matter of indifference: the coarser it is, the less readily does it conduct hea^ and the longer it retains its warmth; therefore, it is more efficient for fomentmg. \\ hite flannel also retains the heat longer than colored flannel. Stimng is a variety of fomentation useful in many cases, but especially in aflec- tions of the eyes. The patient should be his own operator. He sbould si tup m bed and should place, in the hollow of his hand a small piece of flannel wiung out of boilinc. water, and hold the hand at such a distance under the eyes that the vapors may rise to them-changing the flannel as often as it ceases to give out warm vapor. ^ S Lrcoti; or sedative additions are directed, they should be poured hot upon the flan- nel, each time it is changed. Cataplasms, or Poultices, are modifications of fomentations; they generally con- sist ofTu^py substances capabk of absorbing much moisture, -d o^su^h ^^^^ as to be applied accurately to any surface, however irregular. Jheir action^^^^^^^ cases, depends upon the liquids with which they are moistened and the heat retained by the mass. Cataplasms may be emollient, medicated, or ^ejulsive. ^Emollient Cataplasms are usually made ]>^-«-^7f ^tl^icersucTa meal, slippery elm, &c., and water; or of mashed vegetable substances, such as can.. . ^lr;:rXTd moisture are the principal effects of ^f^^V^f^^^fZ substitute for them is lint, dipped in warm water, and laid ^^''^^^^^^f. ^^^^^^ lint should be covered with a towel, in order to proven ^P^J'-^^^;^, z^i:^t. sir jr|.rpr?^i -i^^^^V^Sfi:^^^^ pouUico docs .ot „„c. Vcl.nnfr«<i- '^Vl.cn tl.c object, however is to promote ^Pl^f Jboul/bo frequently renewed, in whieh case the »f ■'>° » , ™ frequon^l Poultices should never be heavy, nor very bulky, but they sIiquki uo i repeared. Thoy nro useful, in all cases o iuflnmn^fon assist the suppurative process and the d^'?'™™ ° *° ^^^^ for a few day. After an abscess is opened, the poultices should st 11 ™''r '=^^„„,„,ion of th Poultices may bo used, also, as fomentations in colic, and in mflaron