375 DISORDERS 



ii.famous practice I have, in the course of 

 this work, so repeatedly, and (I flatter my- 

 self^justly, condemned. For instance, Gib- 

 son directs an intusion of unslaked iniie, 

 powerfully impregnated with sal ammoniac \ 

 and tells you at the same time '' it is an ex- 

 '^ cellent wash for all old obstinate ulcers." 

 Let any patient reader draw an imaginary 

 parallel between the almost inexpressible ir- 

 ritability of this delicate structure and the 

 callous surface of an " obstinate ulcer;" he 

 "Will then, no doubt, form a proper judg- 

 ment to decide upon the coiisistency of the 

 practice. With a wonderful variety of al-^ 

 ternatives, prescribed in all possible forms, 

 we are directed by Bartlet '' to take off 

 ^^ the film, by blowing into the eye equal 

 '^ parts of white vitriol and sugar-candy 

 /^finely powdered." And Bracken most 

 ■judiciously recommeiuls '^ glass finely pow-^ 

 ** dered, mixed up with honey and a little 

 ^^ fresh butter." 



A number of similar instances might be 

 introduced, from different authors, to jus- 

 tify the observations already made upon a 

 practice so strange in its original adoption^ 



