The Cold Drip is a method of keeping the linen compress saturated with water at the required temperature without constant removal and reapplication. A jug of water, kept at the requisite temperature (Mr Fahr.) by means of a piece of ice, is suspended just above the level of the patient's bed, and as nearly over the in flamed part as possible. A piece of or a long strip of lint, or narrow piece of gauze, is placed with one end in the jug and the other resting on the linen compress. The end in the jug should be weighted to keep it at the bottom so arranged, that the water flowing off the compress is directed to a bucket at the patient's bedside, without further wetting the patient. This is rather difficult to do. It should also be noted that the wick or gauze should touch the compress, so that the patient is not annoyed by the drop, drop of the water from above. It should just ooze silently and imperceptibly over the compress.
The Cold Coil gets over the difficulty of maintaining a stream of cold water over an inflamed region without risk of wetting bed or patient. It consists of narrow rubber•tubing, coiled into a circle or other figure of appropriate of the jug; and the height of the jug above the compress will determine the rate at which the water will travel along the wick or gauze to the compress. The bed must be so arranged, and thick folded towel or a piece of waterproof shape, and secured by tapes or by being fixed to a piece of cloth. Fig. 147 shows several shapes. Such temperature regulators, as they are also called, may now be bought of instru ment-makers, made of light metal, also made in flexible metal, and of different shapes to suit various parts of the body. One end dips into a vessel, placed at the side of and higher than the patient's bed, or suspended above the bed, containing the water of the suitable temperature, the other end dips into a vessel at the bedside. A tap can be fitted to regulate the rate of flow. The application of such a coil to the head is shown in Fig. 148. A wet compress is first applied to the inflamed area, as described (see COLD COMPRFISS), and then the coil is laid on it to maintain the low temperature. In Fig. 148 the wet compress is shaped to the head and the coil covers it.
Anyone might make for himself such an ap paratus out of an ordinary bladder and rubber tubing. The bladder should have tied into it two pieces of glass tubing, one at each side ; to each of these should be attached a rubber tube, one connected with the vessel above and the other dipping into a vessel at the bedside, and water is allowed to flow through the bag; the outlet can be contracted, even by means of a piece of string, so as to regulate the flow.
The Ice-bag consists of a thin bladder, or rubber bag, only half-filled with ice broken small. It is laid over the wet compress, and will remain cool until every piece of ice is melted. It should be replenished before this is quite accomplished.
Cooling Lotions, of which one of the chief is the lead lotion of the druggists, or the lead and-opium lotion, may be employed, but are not used so frequently as they used to be. A strip of lint is soaked in the lotion and is laid over the inflamed part. The lint is not covered over, but left uncovered, so that the evaporation of the lotion maintains the cooling effect.
Heat is another external application, em ployed in conditions where cold would be hurt ful.
As a rule, heat is more suitable in the later stages of inflammation, when the irritated area is of depressed vitality, has lost its bright hue, and looks purplish.
When suppuration has begun, heat promotes and accelerates it. Also, when the inflam matory symptoms have abated, heat stimulates the processes by which swelling subsides and thickenings are removed.
The hot Fomentation is the best example of heat application. It is made of a piece of flannel-8-fold—or two pieces of old blanket, of size and shape to suit the inflamed part. Under the inflamed part is laid a folded blanket, if the fomentation is to be applied to the trunk of the body, or a suitable piece if the appli cation is to be only to a limb. The centre of a thick towel is laid in a basin, the piece of flannel upon it, and then boiling water is poured on till the flannel is thoroughly soaked. The ends of the towel hanging out of the basin are now taken up by two persons, one at each end, and, twisting in opposite directions, they rapidly wring out the hot water till the flannel is as dry as it can be made. The hot flannel is now slipped out of the twisted towel and laid closely over the inflamed region, one end of the blanket placed beneath it is then brought up and folded closely down over it, and the other end is similarly tucked round. The fomentation is left on for 20 to 30 minutes. It may be re peated as frequently as oomfort requires. The first application should not be so hot as suc ceeding ones; the first one should rather be employed as a means of preparing the part for a warmer one to follow. When the fomenta tion is removed, the part is dried and covered.