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[TO-MORROW, CRIES TOO LATE TO BE FORGIVEN.] 797. Dressings. These are substances usually applied to parts for the purpose of soothing, promoting their reunion when divided, protecting them from external injuries, absorbing discharges, protecting the surrounding parts, insuring cleanliness, and as a means of applying various medicines. 798. Certain Instruments Certain Instruments are required for the application of dressings in domestic surgery, viz.--scissors, a pair of tweezers or simple forceps, a knife, needles and thread, a razor, a lancet, a piece of lunar caustic in a quill, and a sponge. 799. Materials for dressings. These consist of lint, scraped linen, carded cotton, tow, ointment spread on calico, adhesive plaster, compresses, pads, bandages, poultices, old rags of linen or calico, and water. 800. Rules. The following rules should be attended to in applying dressings: i. Always prepare the new dressing before removing the old one. ii. Always have hot and cold water at hand, and a vessel to place the foul dressings in. iii. Have one or more persons at hand ready to assist, and, to prevent confusion, tell each person what they are to do before you commence; thus, one is to wash out and hand the sponges, another to heat the adhesive plaster, or hand the bandages and dressings, and, if requisite, a third to support the limb, &c. iv. Always stand on the outside of a limb to dress it. v. Place the patient in as easy a position as possible, so as not to fatigue him. vi. Arrange the bed after changing the dressings; but in some cases you will have to do so before the patient is placed on it.