ALLOPATHIC TREATMENT. 137 



similar symptoms presented themselves. In rare cases 

 the central aponeurosis of the diaphragm is perforated, 

 and the pus discharged by sinuses into the pericardium, 

 inducing pericarditis ; and in still rarer cases the hepatic 

 abscess discharges itself into the large blood-vessels, 

 the vena cava and vena porta3, as witnessed by Smith, 

 Graves, and Eokitanski. 



A cure of the hepatic abscess is effected after the pus 

 has been discharged by one of the above-described 

 methods ; or it may result without this occurrence from 

 more or less complete absorption of the pus by the 

 cellulo-vascular membrane investing the sides of the 

 abscess, and the hepatic peritoneal lamina forms a 

 cicatrised, dense, shrivelled covering. 



TREATMENT. 



ALLOPATHICALLY. The inflammatory stage is treated 

 by general and local bleeding and blisters; Ant. Tart., 

 Calomel, Iodide of Potassium, Colchicum and Digitalis, 

 Sulphateof Soda, Taraxacum, Aloes, Gentinn,an<l Chloride 

 of Ammonium, Acid Tartrate of Potass, Salines, Opium, 

 Ilulhulimna, or Morphia. 



When abscess occurs, by bark and ammonia, mineral 

 acids, quinine and iron, opium and wine. 



BOMQEOPATmCALLT. The Acute tittiye. When the 

 homoeopathic physician is fortunate enough to diagnose 

 inflammation of the liver in its early stage, he will find 

 in A >,< !te a potent remedy. The provings and toxicolo- 

 gical effects of this drug show most conclusively that it 

 exercises a specific action on the functions and tissues 

 of that organ, and causes a variety of symptoms which 

 point to intlarnmation. Among these we specially note 



