Poultices. External applications, used to promote suppuration, allay pain and inflammation, resolve tumors, etc.. They are generally prepared with substances capable of absorbing much water, and assuming a pulpy consistence, so as to admit of their application to any surface, however irregular. Their curative action principally depends on the liquids with which they are moistened, and the heat retained by the mass. The addition of a little lard, olive oil, or, still better, glycerine, to a poultice, promotes emollient action and retards hardening. A fold or two of lint dipped in hot water, either simple or medicated, and covered with a thin sheet of gutta-percha, or India-rubber cloth, to prevent evaporation, may often be conveniently employed instead of a poultice. Spongio-piline (see No. 5039 (Spongio-piline)) is still better for this purpose than lint. The following are the principal poultices, but others may be found by referring to the Index.

5019. Bread Poultice

5019.     Bread Poultice. Take stale bread in orumbs, pour boiling water over it, and boil till soft, stirring it well; then take it from the fire, and gradually stir in a little glycerine or sweet oil, so as to render the poultice pliable when applied.

5020. Slippery Elm Poultice

5020.    Slippery Elm Poultice. Take a sufficient quantity of pulverized slippery elm bark; stir it in hot or warm milk and water, to the consistence of a poultice. This is a most efficacious poultice; is of almost universal application, and removes inflammation sooner than any other. If tincture of myrrh be added, it is valuable in boils, ulcers, carbuncles, etc..

5021. Mustard Poultice

5021.    Mustard Poultice. Take equal parts of ground mustard and ground flax-seed, and mix them thoroughly together, with barely enough of water to make them of the thickness of common paste. To prevent sticking, a little glycerine or sweet oil is to be added. The addition of bread crumbs serves to diminish, that of a little vinegar to increase the irritating power of the mustard.

5022. Strong Mustard Poultice

5022.    Strong Mustard Poultice. Mix the best English ground mustard with strong vinegar; spread it on a piece of book or tarleton muslin, to prevent its adhesion to the skin. Wet the part first with vinegar, and apply the poultice.

5023. Linseed Poultice

5023. Linseed Poultice. Take of Unseen, powdered, 4 ounces; hot water, 1/2 pint. Gradually sprinkle the powder into, and stir well with a spoon. This is good and convenient for many cases. It is preferable to the bread and milk poultice so much in use, as it is not so liable to become brittle and hard when dry. It is very useful in carbuncle, obstinate inflammation, etc..

5024. Carrot Poultice

5024.    Carrot Poultice. Take of boiled carrots, bruised, 1 pound; flour, 1 ounce; butter, 1/2 ounce. Mix them with a sufficient quantity of hot water to form a pulp. This will be found a valuable application in ulcerated sores and swellings, scrofulous sores of an irritable kind, and many other inveterate ulcers.