In applying this bath, a vessel with a small opening in the bottom is
elevated to a considerable height, water placed in it being allowed to
drop upon the part to be treated. The aperture in the vessel should be
only sufficiently large to give egress to a single drop at a time. The
bath may also be given by placing in an elevated vessel one end of a
skein of cotton yarn, the other being allowed to fall over the edge of
the vessel and hang below it. By capillary attraction the water will be
drawn up into the yarn and will drop off at the lower end very slowly.
This is a very convenient way of applying water where its cooling
effects are required for a considerable length of time, as in wounds,
bruises, sprains, and similar cases. It will “keep down inflammation” in
a wonderful manner. It is not commonly necessary that the water should
be very cold, as evaporation will keep the part sufficiently cool in
most cases.