soft
cloth for an hour, adding hot water as it cools. If the patient becomes
sick or faint, discontinue the bathing for a time. Dry the limb, rub
with olive oil, and dry again gently. At five in the afternoon repeat
the treatment of the knee. At bedtime sponge all over with hot vinegar,
rub with hot olive oil, and put to bed. If the joint has been
stiffened, gentle efforts to move it may be made during the treatment.

Sometimes during this treatment boils will break out over the knee and
discharge a good deal, but as soon as their work in removing disease is
done, these will heal up. Generally, however, this will not occur. The
diet may be such as we recommend in cases of ABSCESS (_see_).

In bad cases, the treatment may be continued for weeks before much
favourable change is noted. Patience and perseverance, however, will
win the day. The soapy blanket should not be given oftener than three
times a week, and a rest from all treatment on the Sabbath is best.
_See also_ Housemaid's Knee.

Often in cases of knee pain and trouble, when local applications have
little power, a BRAN POULTICE (_see_) on the lower back will effect a
speedy cure. Sensible people will, of course, study and apply fresh
treatment in such cases. Where the knee, for instance, is in the _hot_
stage of inflammation, hot applications will be injurious. In such a
case, cold cloths on the knee, with bran poultice on the lower back,
will be the proper treatment. Try heat first, and if it is hurtful,
vary the treatment to cold and heat, continued as above.

Here, again, is a knee which gives its owner excruciating pain, and
shows only a little swelling and no sign of diseased matter whatever.
The hot fomentation and cold towels have both been tried, but there are
now and again symptoms that show us that the root of the evil has not
been reached. We try cold cloths on this knee, but they greatly
increase the pain. We at length suspect that it is not the knee that is
seriously diseased, but the root of one or more of the nerves that
supply the link from the lower part of the spine. By this time the pain
has returned into the knee dreadfully, and everything has failed. But
very soon after a large, thick towel, folded and wrung out of cold
water, having plenty of mustard spread on it, is placed across the
haunches, relief is given in the most charming fashion. The cold cloth
absorbs superfluous heat, and superfluous vital action to a certain
extent, but th