Health, or, How to Live

BANDAGES

To be worn next the body, should be made of heavy, soft linen. The outer, dry bandage may be made of common cotton muslin, cotton jean, cotton flannel, or if necessary to keep the person warm, woolen flannels. Both the outer and inner bandage should be made double. The rule for wetting the bandage in chronic ailments is, before it gets dry -say three to five times in twenty-four hours. In acute diseases, particularly if there is much fever, they may need wetting much oftener. It is not necessary that they be wet in very cold water, if this is unpleasant, but the water should be cool. HHTL 87.3

ABDOMINAL BANDAGES may be made about six inches wide, and sufficiently long to wind twice around the body, or only long enough to pass around the body once, and meet in front. In the latter case they should be wide enough to cover the stomach and abdomen, and need to be fitted to the form by inserting gores in the lower part, or taking seams in the upper part. HHTL 88.1

THE WET JACKET is fitted nicely to the form, having armholes, and coming up snugly round the neck, and may reach only to the waist, or it may come to the hips. In this form they are admirable worn in fevers. They should be made to lap in front, thus covering the chest with four thicknesses of wet linen and of dry cotton. These, as well as the abdominal bandages, may be left dry across the back, if they cause chilliness. In both cases, also, the outer bandage should extend a little over the edge of the wet one. HHTL 88.2

The THROAT BANDAGE should be about three inches wide, and made to pass once or twice around the neck. HHTL 88.3

COMPRESSES are limited bandages, as a folded wet towel, worn over the throat, or chest, or stomach, or liver, and so covered with a dry bandage as to be kept warm. HHTL 88.4