An epitome of hydrotherapy for physicians, architects and nurses . Fig. 19.—Chest compress: applying flannel cover. (Lecture at Pres-byterian Hospital published in International Clinics.) compress if it is thoroughly warmed, and to avoid renewalif the linen is cool. So long as the rectal temperatureis above ° F. the compress may be renewed everyhour; when it falls below this point, it should be allowedto remain until dry, then removed when convenient, anddiscontinued until the rectal temperature again rises. THE TECHNIC OF HYDROTHERAPY 73 Thus a rotation is kept up every half-hour or hour,
An epitome of hydrotherapy for physicians, architects and nurses . Fig. 19.—Chest compress: applying flannel cover. (Lecture at Pres-byterian Hospital published in International Clinics.) compress if it is thoroughly warmed, and to avoid renewalif the linen is cool. So long as the rectal temperatureis above ° F. the compress may be renewed everyhour; when it falls below this point, it should be allowedto remain until dry, then removed when convenient, anddiscontinued until the rectal temperature again rises. THE TECHNIC OF HYDROTHERAPY 73 Thus a rotation is kept up every half-hour or hour, asthe case may require, night and day, unless the patient isasleep. The water in the basin should be renewed eachtime, and the compress rinsed off in another basin beforeit is rolled up for soaking. In order to insure thoroughcleanliness and prevent furuncles by furthering asepsis,. Fig. 20.—Chest compress complete. Appears like a vest. two sets of compresses are required to admit of changing,and each compress should be boiled once in twenty-fourhours, as in the other forms of this procedure. A veryprevalent error is committed unwittingly by nurses intheir commendable zeal for cleanliness, viz., the coveringof the compress with oiled silk or other waterproofmaterial. The latter would convert the wet compress 74 AN EPITOME OF HYDROTHERAPY into a poultice—in surgery termed a wet dressing. Inas-much as the chief aim of the wet compress is, first, stimu-lation by thermic excitation, then hyperemia by reaction,and it is desired to reduce the latter slowly by evaporiza-tion through the flannel for antithermic effect, the im-pervious covering would defeat the object. Unlessnurses have been specially instructed, they will surelyuse a waterproof cover, especially over an abdominal orchest compress, for the purpose of avoiding dampeningof the clothing and bed. This may
Size: 1609px × 1553px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksub, booksubjecthydrotherapy
