To really really really want to put some sort of poltice thingy on this?

[thefirstMrsDeVere]

With every fibre of my being?

OH had what looked like a cyst on his arm for ages. Suddenly gone all horrible Went to the GP and he says its an abcess and gave antibiotics.

Why do I have this craving to apply a poltice? Would it be harmful?

I wont unless its ok. I dont know why I want to. I used to be a veterinary nurse, maybe thats why. Perhaps its from watching too much Little House on the Praire when I was younger.

Anyone know about these things.

A bread poultice? (What is a bread poultice, anyway)?

Well from what wikipedia tells me I think YANBU

depends what sort of poultice - and it might introduce even more infection, no? i would let the ABs do their job.

really?

I thought they drew out the infection.

I keep thinking 'bran mash'

But I dont have any.

I'd just put a non adherant dressing on it if anything and leave it. Although there is always magnesium sulphate paste ????

Oooh a bread poultice. It's calling out to you as you were obviously a witch/wise woman in a previous life.

Can it do any harm? If not then try it. My mum always swears by a soap and something I've forgotten poultice. It's to bring out splinters, I think...

soap and sugar for splinters.

I dont want 'stuff' all over my soft furnishing though.

Bleugh.

Poor OH. It hurts him though

Put a hot damp flannel on it.

Or call in at your local Indian restaurant and ask for some of those lovely hot towels.

I second Magnesium Sulphate paste (swear by the stuff in this house).

I am a lover of poultices - but of the horse variety. Get thee to a saddlers and purchase some animalintex - can't do any harm surely

That's the one, MrsDeVere.

I was given a poultice when I had a horribly infected insect bite that didn't go away for months; instead it just grew and grew... I was being treated at a reputable London hospital and when all else failed they prescribed a kaolin poultice which I had to warm up and apply to my leg. It had the desired outcome within about a week, so YANBU. (Although it was a little weird to have a romantic weekend in Paris halfway through the treatment and be walking around with a kaolin poultice and a big lump of gauze strapped to my shin).

might try the flannel option first.

Bit short on tack shops in east london.

Ooh balloonslayer I am a big fan of the hot flannel approach!

Mind you some of our flannels are a bit rank and you might end up with bubonic plague.

NOT my flannels

boil washed till they disintigrate mine are!