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PROCESSES OF WATER-CURE. 313
smooth and nice. If the weather is cold, and they have
been brought from a cold room, warm them a little.
Now wring the sheet pretty close out of cold water—
spread it on the blankets. Now let the patient lie down
at full length on the sheet, which must be quickly
folded around him. This is rather cool. Then bring
over the first blanket, first one side and then the other,
it about the
drawing it closely around the neck, tucking
feet, and making it snug all the way down. The patient
feels better. Do the same with each blanket and com
fortable, making all comfortably snug.
The Germans
put a small feather bed over all, and tuck it in well ; but
the comfortables will answer the same purpose. See
that the feet are well wrapped up, and that the head is
in a good position. If the patient is feverish, the sheetv
may cover all but the face. If inclined to be chilly, the
sheet may only come down to the ankles. Sometimes
we begin by letting the sheet come down only to the
knees; sometimes by only putting a wet towel around
under the arms. These are partial wet-sheet packs.
In most cases, the sensations of the patient in the
pack are delightful after the first shock of the sheet.
In five minutes there is a glow all over the body ; then
comes an indescribably calm, soothing feeling, from the
emollient effect, of the wet sheet upon the skin, or the
nerves of sensation. All pain is relieved better than by
any opiate. Generally, in ten or fifteen minutes, the
patient is in a calm, beautiful sleep. In an hour or so,
he breaks out into a profuse perspiration. Now is the
time to take him out, by undoing the coverings quickly,
and as quickly giving him some kind of a full bath, a
dripping sheet, a sponge-bath, a pouring-bath, or any
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