This bath is administered either by drawing water into the nose while
the mouth is closed, or by injecting it by means of a fountain syringe.
Great care should always be exercised to apply the water gently, as a
forcible application will cause pain and irritation. Injection should
never be practiced with a piston syringe, as there is liability of
forcing the water into the Eustachian canals and producing deafness. The
temperature of the water should be warm or tepid for most applications.
Much benefit may be derived by the proper use of this bath in case of
acute or chronic catarrh. The addition of a slight portion of salt to
the water does no harm, and a slightly saline fluid is sometimes less
unpleasant than pure water, probably because it is more nearly like the
mucous secretion of the nasal mucous membrane. Drawing cold water into
the nose is sometimes recommended for hemorrhage from the nose; but it
is of doubtful utility, because the application cannot be continuous,
and transient applications of cold water are always followed by an
afflux of blood to the part so exposed. There are better remedies for
nose-bleed.