Richard Metcalfe, Hydropathist : the man and his work / by an old patient.

Date:
1890
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Richard Metcalfe, Hydropathist : the man and his work / by an old patient. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    82/190 (page 76)
    PRECAUTIONS IN PACKING FEVER CASES. When a full sheet pack is used in fever cases, with the mouth and tongue parched, and the temperature of the body raised two or three degrees, the duration must be from twenty to thirty minutes, only frequently repeated, until the fever is abated without any intermediate ablution. Long-period packs in fever cases are pernicious and weakening, but properly regulated packs are the most rational and judicious remedies. When the fever is abated the patient may have a wet-towel rub, dripping-sheet or shallow bath after the pack, according to the exigencies of the case. The usual precaution in any fever case must be taken not to allow the patient to become chilled in any way, and hot bottles should be placed to the feet at all times of the year when there is a tendency to cold extremities, on returning to bed. The medical action of the half sheet is similar to that of the full sheet, and is generally resorted to when the patient is too feeble to endure a full sheet pack. Its duration and repetition in fever cases will be as above described, also as to the after bath. The Trunk Pack (see Fig. 5) is used in still more delicate cases, the objects to be gained being precisely the same. (Fig. 6.)