Enquire within upon everything by Robert Kemp Philp

Poultices are usually made of linseed meal, oatmeal, or bread, either combined with water or other fluids; sometimes they are made of carrots, charcoal, potatoes, yeast, and linseed meal, mustard, &c., but the best and most economical kind of poultice is a fabric made of sponge and wool felted together, and backed by Indian rubber, called "spongio piline." The method of using this poultice is as follows:--A piece of the material of the required form and size is cut off, and the edges are pared or bevelled off with a pair of scissors, so that the caoutchouc may come in contact with the surrounding skin, in order to prevent evaporation of the fluid used; for, as it only forms the vehicle, the various poultices generally used can be employed with much less expenditure of time and money, and increased cleanliness. For example,--a _vinegar_ poultice is made by moistening the fabric with distilled vinegar; an _alum_ poultice, by using a strong solution of alum; a _charcoal_ poultice, by sprinkling powdered charcoal on the moistened surface of the material; a _yeast_ poultice, by using warmed yeast, and moistening the fabric with hot water, which is to be well squeezed out previous to the absorption of the yeast; a _beer_ poultice, by employing warm porter-dregs or strong beer as the fluid; and a _carrot_ poultice, by using the expressed and evaporated liquor of boiled carrots. Spongio-piline costs about one farthing a square inch, and may be obtained of the chemist. As a fomentation it is most invaluable, and by moistening the material with compound camphor liniment or hartshorn, it acts the same as a mustard poultice. [TO-MORROW, DIES IN ANGUISH AND DESPAIR.]