- poultice
- A soft magma or mush prepared by wetting various powders or other absorbent substances with oily or watery fluids, sometimes medicated, and usually applied hot to the surface; it exerts an emollient, relaxing, or stimulant, counterirritant effect upon the skin and underlying tissues. SYN: cataplasm. [L. puls (pult-), a thick pap; G. poltos]
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poul·tice 'pōl-təs n a soft usu. heated and sometimes medicated mass spread on cloth and applied to sores or other lesions to supply moist warmth, relieve pain, or act as a counterirritant or antiseptic called also cataplasmpoultice vt, -ticed; -tic·ing to apply a poultice to* * *
n.a preparation of hot moist material applied to any part of the body to increase local circulation, alleviate pain, or soften the skin to allow matter to be expressed from a boil. Poultices containing kaolin retain heat for a considerable period during use.* * *
poul·tice (pōlґtis) [L. puls pap; Gr. kataplasma] a soft, moist mass about the consistency of cooked cereal, spread between layers of muslin, linen, gauze, or towels and applied hot to a given area in order to create moist local heat or counterirritation.
Medical dictionary. 2011.