36S

OF ULCERS.

,

medicine, that they seem disposed to heal of their own accord. Ulcerswhich are the effect of malignant fevers, or other acute diseases, maygenerally be healed with safety after the health has been restored forsome time. The cure ought not however to he attempted too soon, norat any time without the use of purging medicines, and a proper regimen.When wounds or bruises have, by wrong treatment, degenerated intoulcers, if the constitution be good, they may be healed with safety.When ulcers either accompany chronical diseases, or tome in their stead,they must be cautiously healed. If an ulcer conduces to the patient'?health, from whatever cause it proceeds, it ought not to be healed; butif, on the contrary, it wastes the strength, and consumes the patient bya slow fever, it should be healed as soon as possible.

We would earnestly recommend a strict attention to these particularsto all who have the misfortune to labour under this disorder, particularlypersons in the decline of life; as we have frequently known people throwaway their lives by the want of it, while they were extolling and gener-ously rewarding those whom they ought to have looked upon as theirexecutioners.

The most proper regimen for promoting the cure of ulcers is to avoidall spices, salted and high seasoned food, all strong liquors, and to lessenthe usual quantity of flesh meat. The body ought to be kept gentlyopen by a diet consisting chiefly of cooling laxative vegetables, and bydrinking butter-milk, whey sweetened with honey, or the like. Thepatient ought to be kept cheerful, and should take as much exercise ashe can easily bear.

When the bottom and sides of an ulcer seem hard and callous, theymay be sprinkled twice a-day with a little red precipitate of mercury,and afterwrrds dressed with the ointment of yellow resin. Sometimes itwill be necessary to have the edges of the ulcer scarified with the lancet.

Lime-water has frequently been known to have very happy effects inthe cure of obstinate ulcers. It may be used in the same manner asdirected for the stone and gravel. It may also be employed externallyas a lotion; and if there is reason to suspect that the ulcer arises from asyphititic cause, add one drachm of calomel to half a pint of lime-water,with which wash the sore twice a-day.

Dr. Whytt strongly recommends the use of the solution of muriatedquicksilver in brandy, for the cure of obstinate ill-conditioned ulcers.I have frequently found this medicine, when given according to theDoctor's directions, prove very successful. The dose is a table-spoonfulnight and morning; at the same time washing the sore twice or thrice a-day with it. He informed me, " That he observed washing the sorethrice a-day with the solution of a triple strength was very beneficial."In ulcers of the lower limbs great benefit is often received from tighrollers, or wearing a laced stocking; this prevents the flux of humoursto the sores, and disposes them to heal.

A fistulous ulcer can seldom be cured without an operation. It mus.either be laid open so has to have 'ts callous parts destroyed by somecorrosive application, or they must be entirely cut away by the knifebut as this operation requites the hand of an expert surgeon, there is nooccasion to discribe it. Ulcers about the anus are most apt to becomefistulous, and are verv difficult to cure. Some indeed, it is said, have