fomentations

Noun

fomentation (plural fomentations)

1. The act of fomenting; the application of warm, soft, medicinal substances, as for the purpose of easing pain by relaxing the skin, or of discussing (dispersing) tumours.
   • Twenty leeches were ordered to be applied round the nose every two days; frequent emollient fomentations; the local vapour bath; general bathing; stimulating pedilavia; a strict regimen; vegetables, milk, white meats; demulcent or acidulated drinks; avoidance of exposure to the sun or to cold air...1827 May 1, “XXVI. Spreading Ulcer of the Nose.”, in James Copland, John Darwall, John Conolly, editors, The London Medical Repository and Review, volume XXVII, number 161 (New Series, volume IV...
2. A lotion or poultice applied to a diseased or injured part of the body.
   • […] I purged him with our Quintaeſſencia Solutiuo, eight dayes together, that being done I made him a fomentation, that cauſed him to ſweate well, and to ſpitte aboundaunce, […]1580, Leonardo Phioravanti [i.e., Leonardo Fioravanti], “A Cure of Vlcera Putrida, the which was in the Arme”, in Iohn Hester, transl., A Short Discours of the Excellent Doctour and Knight, Maister...
3. Encouragement; excitation; instigation.
   • [T]he Catholick King complained very much thereof, upbraiding the moſt Chriſtian King how ill this did correſpond to the ſo many aſſiſtances which were given by Spain to France ſince that from thence ſo great a fomentation was now preparing to his Rebels in Flanders.1678, [Guido] Bentivoglio; Henry, Earl of Monmouth [i.e., Henry Carey, 2nd Earl of Monmouth], The History of the Warrs of Flanders: Written in Italian by that Learned and Famous Cardinal Bentivoglio...