In some cases, a patient is advised local treatment of a cold pack on the body, say in the case of chest or back-ache or pain in the organs of the abdomen. In such cases, a wet bandage of cloth is used and wrapped around the body covering the affected part.
The bandage of cloth can be 6 inches to a foot wide and length may be according to the circumference of the body. To give the body sufficiently thicker wrap, by about six layers, the bandage may be 7 to 8 feet long. For the neck, it is to be shorter in width and length.
After wrapping up the body, a bit tightly, fix the bandage with two or three safety pins. Then, over and above the wrapped bandage, cover it with a layer of woollen piece of cloth, to be wrapped tied up with pins.
In such bandages, the patient can move about, the ladies can continue with their kitchen work and men, too, can go about their work. The bandage continues giving its heat effect soon after, as the water of the wet bandage is steamed up, giving comfort to the affected portion of the body.
The bandage is a very useful instrument of comfort in the case of body pains. On the chest, it helps in the breathing action of the lungs and on the neck, it helps easing cough and colds.