So common a thing as a poultice might seem beneath notice in such a treatise as the present, but some hints may be given thereon to the nurse.

Thus in making a linseed-meal poultice most persons pour hot water upon the meal. To make a smooth, firm poultice, however, the reverse should be the plan - viz., to stir the meal into the water.

A poultice should not be too heavy, especially if to be applied on the abdomen. It need not be changed oftener than when it gets cold.

There are various kinds of poultices - e.g., mustard, yeast, carrot, bran, charcoal, bread.

Bread Poultice may be used alone, for most small purposes, such as a boil. It will be the basis also of the charcoal and carrot poultices.

Charcoal, bruised or powdered coarsely, and mixed with bread poultice, is useful for absorbing offensive odours.

Scraped Carrot, mixed with bread-poultice, is used to stimulate a sluggish and sloughing or mortifying surface.

Yeast, mixed with bread-crumb, forms also a good poultice for sluggish and offensive ulcers.

Mustard Poultice, or Sinapism, may be made several ways; sometimes equal parts of bread-crumb or flour, and mustard are used, but the best way is to make a tolerably thick paste of mustard and water, spread it on stiff brown paper, and cover with thin muslin. This poultice is stronger, but requires to be kept on the part a less time than the others. When removed, the surface is easily cleansed by a soft towel.

A handy way of making a mustard plaster also is to soak a slice of bread in water, and sprinkle it with flour of mustard. A ready and efficient sinapism is afforded by Rigollot's "mustard leaves".