Earlier text: HOW TO LIVE.Preparation is made for the PACK on a bed or lounge, the pillow lying in its place, and two warm comfortables and a woolen blanket, or as many blankets as will amount to these in quantity, being spread outside. Over these is spread the wet sheet, slightly wrung, and so high up that it will reach but a few inches below the knees, and may be wrapped around20 the head. The patient immediately places himself upon this, on his back, his arms at his sides, and the attendant quickly brings the corner of the sheet over from the further side, under the chin, and tucks it under the near shoulder, and up close to the neck, and then all along down the body to the bottom of the sheet. Then the opposite side of the sheet is spread over and tucked under in the same way. Then one side of the blanket, then the other, and so of the comfortables, being sure to make these snug around the feet. If there is liability that the feet will grow cold, they should be wrapped in a warm blanket or have a bottle of hot water placed near them, outside the blanket. Sometimes we wrap them in flannel folded and wrung out of hot water; and very frequently, when persons have local congestions, as of the lungs, liver, or throat, we place over the part, hot, wet flannels when we put them in pack. I have known persons who could not take a pack in the ordinary way without chilling, have them administered with great benefit by placing a strip of hot flannel up and down the back-bone, inside the wet sheet. A cool wet towel should be laid on the forehead, and the person left entirely quiet, and in three times out of four he will go to sleep and get a delicious nap. He should not be left alone, however, unless he is accustomed to it, as he may become very nervous on finding himself alone and helpless. The rule for remaining in the pack, if the patient is quiet, is till he feels thoroughly warm; say from twenty-five to sixty minutes. It is usual to give persons some form of general bath, as described above, the moment he is taken out of pack; though with feeble persons we sometimes throw the dry sheet round them instead, and wipe immediately. Or such one may take a towel-washing, lying still, and being only partly uncovered at a time. The SITZ-BATH may be taken in a common-sized wash-tub, though we have tubs made on purpose, which are higher at the back, with so much water as nearly to fill the tub when the person sits down. The21 person should remove all his clothing, except his shoes and stockings, and be well wrapped up in his bath with a comfortable. Many times it is desirable to undress the feet also, and take a warm foot-bath while a tepid sitz-bath is taken. In this case, the feet should be dipped into the cool water when taken out of the warm-bath. A cool wet cloth or cap should be worn on the head. This bath is continued from five to ninety minutes, to meet condition; though the more usual time is from fifteen to thirty minutes. The SHALLOW-BATH may be taken in any tub sufficiently large to allow the person to be immersed in water to the hips, as he sits or stands in it. The upper portion of the body should be covered with a blanket or warm wrapper. This bath is continued from five to thirty minutes. Sometimes, however, it is taken sitting, in a half-bath tub, an attendant rubbing the limbs, and in such cases it is continued from one to five minutes. The HAND-WASHING is performed by dipping the hands frequently in a vessel of water, and rubbing vigorously a limited portion of the surface, as over the chest, abdomen, liver, spleen, or spinal column. Severe congestions are sometimes relieved by this process—dipping the hands alternately in cold and hot water, and continuing it ten to twenty minutes. FOOT-BATHS are made from one to five inches in depth, in a keeler or common pail, and are continued from five to twenty minutes. HAND-BATHS taken alone or with foot-baths are often beneficial. When FOMENTATIONS are to be applied to any part of the trunk of the body, the better plan is to double a woolen blanket and spread it in a bed, and let the patient undress and lie down upon it. A flannel folded to about six thicknesses is then wrung out of hot water and placed upon the part to be fomented; the blanket is brought over it, first from one side and then the other, and then the bed clothes spread over all. The cloth should be applied at such a temperature as to feel decidedly warm, or pleasantly (not unpleasantly) hot; and should be replaced by a fresh one as often as it grows cool—say from six or eight to22 twelve or fifteen minutes. The head must be kept cool and the feet warm. The applications may be continued from ten minutes to two hours, as occasion requires. On finally removing the flannel cloth, the part fomented must be washed off with cool water—say at 85° or 80°—unless a cool bath is to follow, or a cool bandage or compress is to be applied. Here is an important point. Whenever water is applied to any part, or the whole, of the body at so high a temperature as to relax the coats of the capillaries and distend them with blood, it must be followed by an application at so low a temperature as to constringe the vessels and restore their tone. Otherwise there is great liability to take cold. Hence the old-fashioned way of “soaking the feet in hot water,” on going to bed at night, for a cold, had to be done with great care to avoid adding to the cold. If the hot bath had been followed by a cold one, there would have been no difficulty. One of the most convenient and efficient methods of inducing sweating is to place the patient in a sitz-bath, with a foot-bath, letting both be as warm as can well be borne. He must be well covered with a comfortable, and as the baths gradually cool, hot water can be added. The head must be kept well wet with cold water, and watch kept that the patient does not grow faint. When perspiration is thoroughly established, he may take a half-bath or dripping-sheet, and go to bed. If it is desired to check the perspiration entirely, a good way is to commence the half-bath as high as 90°, and gradually reduce it to 80°, or lower. One of the safest and most effectual modes of breaking up a severe cold for a robust person, is to place him in a hot-bath till he sweats profusely, and then transfer him immediately to a pack at about 80°, and follow this by a dripping-sheet, and send him to bed with but little to eat for two or three days. If there is congestion of the throat or lungs, it is sometimes well to foment the parts while in the hot-bath. Such a course23 as this is a considerable tax upon the strength, and should be followed by, at least, several hours’ repose in bed. If, after going to bed, the sweating continues too long, it should be checked by a cold bath; or, if it continues at all, it is well to rub off the surface with a wet towel on rising. Of warm water should be administered at the temperature most sickening to the patient, probably about 90°. The draughts should be taken at short intervals, not allowing time for the absorbents of the stomach to take up the water to any great extent. It may be needful to give anywhere from a pint to four quarts. When used daily for cathartic purposes, should be taken at a regular hour, one hour after breakfast being a very suitable time, at a temperature of 85° or 80°. If there is particular inactivity of the bowels, the enema may be rendered more efficacious by lying down, having the water slowly injected, and retaining it fifteen or twenty minutes, if necessary, for this purpose pressing externally with a folded towel. Some author has said that it is better to lie upon the right side in taking an injection, and it would seem from the conformation of the intestines, that there might be reason in this. Where there is obstinate constipation, it is sometimes useful to take a small cold injection, to be retained on going to bed at night. 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 much24 oftener. It is not necessary that they should be wet in very cold water, if this is unpleasant, but the water should be cool. 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. 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. The THROAT BANDAGE should be about three inches wide, and made to pass once or twice around the neck. 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. Is made by taking a piece of linen long enough to measure round the head, just above the ears, and from three to four inches wide when doubled. This is sewed together at the ends, and gathered at the upper edge into a round crown-piece. It is wet in cold water, and worn on the top of the head, coming down on the forehead, and must be re-wet as often as it becomes dryish. It does not add particularly to the attractiveness of one’s appearance, but is exceedingly comfortable where one suffers from heat in the head, from chronic congestion, or to be worn in the study or library when thinking is not easy.