TUMOURS. 183 



PLE TUMOUR, or ABSCESS, taken in its single 

 view, as one effort of nature to relieve itself 

 from the weio;ht of an extra vasated fluid 

 collected, and (the cause b,eing inflamma- 

 tory) become too tenacious for transpiration 

 through the cutaneous passages or pores of 

 the skin, and too viscid to be again absorbed 

 or taken into the circulation. This is the 

 principle of action, M^hether proceeding from 

 the orumous state of the blood obstructinoj 

 the finer passages, accumulating aiul acting 

 by its stimulus upon the irritable parts, from 

 an extravasation of fluid ejected from the 

 veins or lympathics, in consequence of lace- 

 ration from bruises, or ruptures from strains. 

 It has been a predominant and established 

 practice to attempt repulsion, even after the 

 decisive formation of matter, by the most 

 powerful spirituous apphcations, thereby in- 

 flaminoj the integuments and indurating the 

 contents ; not without a very great proba- 

 bility of producing an inveterate ulcer, or 

 iono'stcmdifio' fistula. 



In all applications, whether external or in- 

 ternal, REASON will prove a very uselul 

 assistant; pay due i^espcct to th^ indication 



