ULCERS.

363

plaster. It should be spread on rag- or silk, as an external cover-ing to the dressing on lint, where a tow-plaster cannot be cocveniently used ; as in wounds of the face or hands, a bubo, or amother sore, where an external plaster cannot readily be retained inits situation by a bandage. This plaster is likewise so mild that itnever irritates the skin. It has also been found very useful in frne-tures. The following is the formula :

Take Lead Plaster, I lb.

Heir's Lard, Prepared, 6 ounces.

Vinegar, 4 ounces.Mix.

Mr. Iiaynton's Plan of curing old Ulcers of the Leg by Means ifAdhesive Plaster, without Rest.

Mr. Baynton says that the means proposed by him will be found,in most instances, sufficient to accomplish cures in the worst cases,without pain or confinement. After having been repeatedly di--appointed in the cure of old ulcers, Mr. Baynton determinebringing their edges nearer together by means of slips of ad'plaster. To this he was chiefly led, from having frequently observ-ed, that the probability of an ulcer continuing sound dependedmuch ou the size of the cicatrix which remained after the cure ap-peared to be accomplished; and from knowing well, that the trueskin was a much more substantial support and defence, as well asa better covering, than the fraii one, which is obtained by the as-sistance of art. But, when he had recourse to the adhesive plasterwith a view to lessen the probability of those ulcers breaking outagain, he little expected, that an application so simple would provethe easiest, most efficacious, and most agreeable means of treatingulcers. His method is as follows :

" The parts should be first cleared of the hair, sometimes foundin considerable quantities on the legs, by means of a razor, thatnone of the discharges, by being retained, may become acrid andinflame the skin, and that the dressings may be removed with easeat each time of their renewal, which, in some cases, where thedischarges are profuse, and the ulcers very irritable, may, perhaps,be necessary twice in the twenty-four hours, but which I have inevery instance been only under the necessity of performing oncein that space of time.

" The plaster should be prepared by slowly melting, in an ironladle, a sufficient quantity of litharge plaster, or diacvlon, which,if too brittle when cold to adhere, may be rendered adhesive bymelting half a drachm of resin with every ounce of the plaster :when melted it should be stirred till it begins to cool, and thenspread thinly upon slips of smooth porous calico, of a convenientlength and breadth, by sweeping it quickly from the end held bythe left hand of the person who spreads it, to the other, held firmlyby another person, with the common elastic spatula used by apoth-ecaries : the uneven edges must be taken off, the pieces cut intoslips, about two inches in breadth, and of a length that will, afterbeing passed round the limb, leave an end of about f ■ or fiveinches. The middle of the piece so prepared is to be applied to thesound part of the limb, opposite to the inferior part of the ulcer,