Page:The physical training of children (IA 39002011126464.med.yale.edu).pdf/269

 vulcanized india-rubber warehouse. 3. Another, and an excellent remedy for these cases, is a hot bran poultice. The way to make it is as follows: Stir bran into a vessel containing either a pint or a quart (according to size of poultice required) of boiling water, until it be of the consistence of a nice soft poultice, then put it into a flannel bag and apply it to the part affected. When cool, dip it from time to time in hot water. 4. In case a child has a feverish cold, especially if it be attended, as it sometimes is, with pains in the bowels, the following is a good external application: Take a yard of flannel, fold it three widths, then dip it in very hot water, wring it out tolerably dry, and apply it evenly and neatly round and round the bowels; over this, and to keep it in its place and to keep in the moisture, put on a dry flannel bandage, four yards long and four inches wide. If it be put on at bedtime, it ought to remain on all night. Where there are children, it is desirable to have the yard of flannel and the flannel bandage in readiness, and then a mother will be prepared for emergencies. Either the one or the other, then, of the above applications will usually, in pains of the stomach and bowels, afford great relief. There is one great advantage of the external application of heat—it can never do harm; if here be inflammation, it will do good; if there be either cramps or spasms of the stomach, it will be serviceable; if there be colic, it will be one of the best remedies that can be used; if it be a feverish cold, by throwing the child into a perspiration, it will be useful.

It is well for a mother to know how to make a white-*bread poultice; and as the celebrated Abernethy was noted for his poultices, I will give you his directions, and in his very words: "Scald out a basin, for you can never make a good poultice unless you have perfectly boiling water, then, having put in some hot water, throw in