356

INFLAMMATION AND ABSCESSES.

be formed with regard to the event, from a knowledge of the pa-tient's age and constitution. Inflammations happening in a slightdegree upon colds, and without any previous indisposition, willmost probably be dispersed ; those which follow close upon a fever,or happen to persons of a gross habit of body, will generally sup-purate ; and those which attack very old people, or persons of adropsical habit, will have a strong tendency to gangrene.

If the inflammation be slight, and the constitution sound, thedispersion ought always to be attempted. This will be best pro-moted by a slender diluting diet, plentiful bleeding, and repeatedpurges. The part itself must be fomented, and, if the skin bevery tense, it may be embrocated with a mixture of three-fourthsof sweet oil, and one-fourth of vinegar, and afterwards coveredwith a piece of wax-plaster.

If, notwithstanding these applications, the symptomatic fever in-creases, and the tumour becomes larger, with violent pain and pul-sation, it will be proper to promote the suppuration. The bestapplication for this purpose is a soft poultice, which may be renew-ed twice a-day. If the suppuration proceeds but slowly, a rawonion cut small or bruised may be spread upon the poultice. Whenthe abscess is ripe or fit for opening, which may easily be knownfrom the thinness of the skin in the most prominent part of it,fluctuation of matter, which may be felt under the finger, and, gen-erally speaking, an abatement of the pain, it may be opened eitherwith a lancet, or by means of caustic.

The last way in which an inflammation terminates, is in a gan-grene or mortification, the approach of which may be known bythe following symptoms :— The inflammation loses its redness, andbecomes duskish or livid ; the tension of the skin goes off, and itfeels flabby ; little bladders filled with ichor of different coloursspread all over it ; the tumour subsides, and from a duskish com-plexion becomes black - , a quick low pulse, with cold clammsweats, are the immediate forerunners of death.

When these symptoms first appear, the part ought to be dressedwith London treacle, or a cataplasm made of lixivium and bran.Should the symptoms become worse, the part must be scarified,and afterwards dressed with basilicum softened with oil of turpen-tine. All the dressings must be applied warm. With regard tointernal medicines, the patient must be supported with generouscordials, and the Peruvian bark exhibited in as large doses as thestomach will bear it. If the mortified parts should separate, thewound will become a common ulcer ; and must be treated accord-ingly.

This article includes the treatment of all those diseases, which,in different parts of tlie country, go by the names of biles, irnpost-hr.mes, lohitloes,* &.c. They are all abscesses in consequence of a,

* A whitloe is a very painful complaint. It is generally caused by a small quantityof purulent matter lodged very deep, and compressed by Ihe hard unyielding skin cov-ering the finger. The pain may be instantly relieved by making a pretty deep incisionwith a lancet. The skin should also be rather freely divided, which will prevent the.compression of the fungous flesh that is frequently thrown out from a whitloe, andwhich, when girt by the skin, occasions great pain. Tne wound may be dressed witha little Peruvian balsam spread on lint. An incipient whitloe may occasionally bedispersed by immersing the part in water as hot ss it can b« borne. A. P. B.