CATAPLASAI (a Greek term for a poultice), an application to diseased or painful parts, for the purpose of promoting suppuration, relieving pain, and stimulating or soothing the skin, according to circumstances. A C. may be composed of any moist pulpy substance of sufficient consistence to retain the water without dripping or soaking through the thin muslin covering in which it is generally wrapped. The making of a poultice well is a matter of some nicety,and unless the proper consistence is given to the mass,the application is apt to do more harm than good. The linseed-meal poultice is the most easily made, and most satisfactory of all soothing applications. The meal is stirred gradually into a suffi cient quantity of boiling water, placed in the bottom of a small basin or teacup, until a perfectly smooth pulp is formed of the proper consistence, and in quantity sufficient to cover completely, to the thickness of three quarters of an inch, the whole pained part. The pulp is then folded up in muslin or thin calico, and applied as soon as the heat will permit it to be borne. The bread and milk, or even bread and water poultice, is also
very good; as is also the oatmeal-porridge poultice, to which a little butter may be added with advantage. A spoonful or two of yeast may lie added, if there are foul discharges, or peat charcoal may be sprinkled on the surface of the poultice before it is applied. Carrot poultices are in great favor with the people in some parts of the country. Hem lock poultices, made of the fresh leaves, or of the dried leaves, with the aid of some powder of the leaves, form a valuable sedative application in painful diseases; and poppy heads, or even opium, are sometimes infused in the water of which a poultice is made, for the same purpose. A stimulating C. or poultice may be made by sprinkling oil of turpentine, or chloroform, or mustard In moderate quantity on the surface of any ordinary poultice. When considerable irritation of the skin in a short time is desira ble, a mustard C. or sinapism (Rinapi, mustard) is used.