Definition

1. Noun:
   • A medical dressing for external application: A cataplasm is a soft, heated mass of meal, clay, or other substances, spread on a cloth and applied to the skin. Its primary uses are to treat inflammation, soothe aches, or improve circulation in a localized area.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor recommended a cataplasm of mustard and flour to reduce the swelling.
  • In historical treatments, a warm cataplasm was often applied to the chest to relieve congestion.

Advanced Usage

• "To apply a cataplasm": This phrase describes the act of putting this type of medicinal dressing on the body.
  • The nurse instructed her on how to apply a cataplasm correctly to the affected joint.

Variants and Related Words

• Poultice (n): This is the most common synonym for cataplasm in modern medical and general usage.
  • A poultice made from crushed herbs can be very effective.
• Plaster (n): In some contexts, this can refer to a similar medicated dressing, though it often implies a firmer consistency.

Synonyms

• Poultice: A soft, moist mass of material, typically of plant origin or meal, applied to the body to relieve soreness and inflammation.
• Dressing: A more general term for any material applied to a wound or affected part of the body.

Notes on Meaning

The word cataplasm is a technical and somewhat archaic term. In contemporary English, poultice is far more commonly used in both medical and everyday contexts to describe the same type of treatment.

Noun

1. a medical dressing consisting of a soft heated mass of meal or clay that is spread on a cloth and applied to the skin to treat inflamed areas or improve circulation etc.