600 QUITTOR. 



swelling over one heel and quarter of the foot, for which we 

 prescribe fomentations and poultices, and wait the expected 

 suppurative process, endeavouring by these means to 

 modify its extent ; and in almost every case we succeed in 

 limiting it to a slight discharge, and immediate healthy ter- 

 mination ; in one case out of many, however, the charac- 

 ters which immediately precede the manifestation of quittor 

 appear. In the latter case, instead of a slight discharge of 

 healthy pus, and subsidence of swelling and pain, we find 

 a limpid secretion, with an angry-looking small orifice, and 

 increasing pain all indicating that there are conditions 

 within that must be changed. More frequently, when 

 called to a case of quittor, we find this latter stage has 

 already passed, and the disease .of some days', weeks', and 

 sometimes of months' standing. Commonly we have one 

 sinus externally, in old standing cases sometimes two, at a 

 distance of an inch or so apart, one about the centre of the 

 quarter and the other backward. Our first step in the case 

 is to inject an active agent, which is especially successful in 

 destroying the spurious growths, whilst it very sparingly 

 affects natural, firm structures. We take the following 

 chemical composition : 1 drachm of bichloride of mercury, 

 rubbed down and dissolved in one ounce of rectified spirit, 

 to which we add |- drachm of liqui plumbi acetetis. With 

 this mixture, by means of a small elastic gum (we find 

 this the best) syringe, we press it into the sinus, and in 

 case there be two, place the finger on one to prevent escape 

 thereat of the liquid, the object? being to press and infiltrate 

 the whole tumefied part. We never probe the part, but 

 send the fluid to do the exploring work; for though we have 

 a tolerably large orifice externally, that being the channel 

 into which an infinity of smaller tubes empty themselves, 

 these afford no calibre for the passage of a probe, which 



