pledgets

They are simply repulsive or at least unwelcome "pledgets" of unsucculent matter stuck into the body of fiction, as (but with how different results!) _lardons_ or pistachios or truffles are stuck into another kind of composition.

A History of the French Novel, Vol. 2 To the Close of the 19th Century George Saintsbury 1889

So as a way to keep this dry-ear problem of mine from recurring (the condition having been, apparently, what caused the ear infection of early January), the doctor told me to shove little soft cotton pledgets soaked with olive oil into my ears while showering.

Today’s weird cat story | Diane Duane's weblog: "Out of Ambit" 2006

The slight bleeding is stopped by burnt rags or ashes and healed with cerates, pledgets and fumigations.

The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night 2006

Now something similar may happen in fracture of the ribs; for in fracture of one or more ribs, in general, if the fractured bones are not driven inward, nor are laid bare, fever rarely supervenes, neither does it often happen that there is haemoptysis, empyema, and suppurating sores, which require treatment with pledgets, nor necrosis of the bones; and in these cases the ordinary regimen is sufficient.

On The Articulations 2007

The bleeding nostril may be more readily plugged by simply pressing into it little pledgets of cotton with a slender stick, but it would be impossible for an unskilled person to get them out again, and a physician should withdraw them inside of forty-eight hours.

The Home Medical Library, Volume II (of VI) Kenelm Winslow

For nosebleed it is often efficient when snuffed up the nose, or when pledgets of cotton are soaked in it and placed in the nostrils.

The Home Medical Library, Volume II (of VI) Kenelm Winslow

The wound is thoroughly cleansed by means of ablutions if necessary; but preferably by swabbing with pledgets of cotton or gauze which are moistened in antiseptic solutions.

Lameness of the Horse Veterinary Practitioners' Series, No. 1 John Victor Lacroix

Following this, and _before removing the tourniquet_, the wound should be filled with pledgets of carbolized tow, and the whole tightly secured by a stout and broad linen bandage of not less than 6 yards in length.

Diseases of the Horse's Foot Harry Caulton Reeks

The wound proper is cleared of all foreign material either by clipping with the scissors, curetting or mopping with cotton or gauze pledgets.

Lameness of the Horse Veterinary Practitioners' Series, No. 1 John Victor Lacroix

Then pledgets of cotton wool are packed into the bag formed by the cotton cloth after the stick is withdrawn.

The Home Medical Library, Volume II (of VI) Kenelm Winslow