5057. The Best Mustard Plaster

5057.      The Best Mustard Plaster. Take a piece of waste linen, and, if crumpled, iron it smooth; or paper will do. Procure a small quantity of black mustard seed, and bruise it to a coarse powder, in a pestle and mortar or otherwise. Spread over the linen a thin solution of gum, and sprinkle the powder equally over it. Dry in a warm place. When wanted, plasters may be cut of any size or shape; and when applied should be momentarily dipped in tepid water, and tied over the affected part with a bandage. These plasters are more simple, cleanly, and effective than the ordinary mustard poultices. This preparation may bo had at the drug stores, made in 3 different strengths, No. 1 being the most powerful.

5058. Court Plaster

5058.       Court Plaster. This plaster is merely a kind of varnished silk, and its manufacture is very easy. Bruise a sufficient quantity of isinglass, and let it soak in a little warm water for 24 hours; expose it to heat over the fire till the greater part of the water is dissipated, and supply its place by proof spirits of wine, which will combine with the isinglass. Strain the whole through a piece of open linen, taking care that the consistence of the mixture shall be such that, when cool, it may form a trembling jelly. Extend a piece of black or flesh-colored silk on a wooden frame, and fix it in that position by means of tacks or twine. Then apply the isinglass (after it has been rendered liquid by a gentle heat) to the silk with a brush of fine hair (badgers' is the best). As soon as this first coating is dried, which will not be long, apply a second; and afterwards, if the article is to be very superior, a third. When the whole is dry, cover it with two or three coatings of the balsam of Peru. This is the genuine court plaster. It is pliable, and never breaks, which is far from being the case with spurious articles sold under that name.

5059. De Rheims' Healing Paper

5059.     De Rheims' Healing Paper. Make a strong tincture of capsicum-pods by steeping them for several days, in a warm place, in twice their weight of rectified spirits of wine. Dissolve gum-arabic in water to about the consistency of molasses. Add to this an equal quantity of the tincture, stirring it together with a small brush or a large camel's-hair pencil, until they are well incorporated. The mixture will be cloudy and opaque. Take sheets of silk or tissue-paper; give them with the brush a coat of the mixture; let them dry, and then give another; let that dry, and, if the surface is shining, there is enough of the peppered gum; if not, give a third coat. This paper, applied in the same way as court plaster to chilblains that are not broken, and burns that are not blistered, speedily relieves the itching and the pain. It acts like a charm, and effects a rapid cure. The same with cuts and discolored bruises. It likewise allays rheumatic pains in the joints. Its great value is that, besides acting as ordinary sticking-plaster, it abates suffering and hastens the process of healing.

5060. Cooley's Corn Plaster

5060.    Cooley's Corn Plaster. In a piece of card, cut a round hole the size of the central portion of the corn; lay the card on a piece of adhesive plaster, and warm the spot of plaster exposed by the hole in the card, by holding a hot iron near it for a second or two; then remove the card and sprinkle some finely powdered nitrate of silver on the warm spot of the plaster. When cold, shake off the loose powder, and apply to the corn. Two or three applications seldom fail to cure.

5061. Carbolic Plaster

5061.    Carbolic Plaster. Carbolic glycerine, 34 parts by weight; prepared chalk, 94 parts. Mix well by kneading, and enclose in closely-stoppered jars.

5062. Irritating Plaster

5062.      Irritating Plaster. Boil together 1 pound tar, 1/2 ounce burgundy pitch, 1 ounce white pine turpentine, and 2 ounces resin. Finely powder 1 ounce each mandrake root, blood root, poke root, and Indian turnip. Stir these into the melted tar, etc., before it cools. This plaster, spread on muslin and renewed daily, will raise a sore, which is to be wiped with a dry cloth, to remove matter, etc.. The sore must not be wetted. This is a powerful counter-irritant, for removing internal pains, and in other cases where an irritating plaster is necessary.