Moist heat is an extremely effective measure in treatment of inflammations of the eyelids and the anterior segment of the globe, and at first glance it would be hard to think of a simpler method than the application of hot moist pads. The application, to be of any value, however, must be continued for 15 minutes or more, during which time the pad must be kept moist and the temperature constant. In these days of personnel shortages, hospital nursing staffs, with the best will in the world, find it difficult, and often impossible, to carry out orders for moist heat when it means tying up the time of a nurse or an attendant with one or two patients for a relatively long time while these requirements are met.
Some months ago there came to my attention a commercially prepared pack (the Hydrocollator steam pack), which retains moist heat for 30