FISTULA. 171 



pated exaftly as before defcribed; ufing neither 

 corroiives or cauftics, but adhering to the me- 

 thod of keeping down fungus, or excrefcences, 

 by the appHcation of unflacked lime in the 

 lump, (for a fev/ minutes) or previoufly 

 powdered, where the wound will not admit 

 of its ufe in the other form. This method 

 fhould have the preference on all occafions ; 

 for which a very predominant reafon may be 

 urged, that, receiving its power only from the 

 moiflure it imbibes from the part, it immedi- 

 ately performs the purpofe it is intended to 

 execute, and becomes direffly ina(flive : where- 

 as the favourite articles of aquafortis ^ oilofvi^ 

 trioly and jnercury, not only abfolutely cau- 

 terize or BURN all the part, but raife a great 

 degree of mfam?natio?i upon the furrounding 

 veffels, and evidently increafe the mifchief they 

 were intended to prevent. The detergent 

 WASH before mentioned, cannot be too fre- 

 quently ufed till the wound bears marks of 

 amendment ; and care m.uft be taken in the fe- 

 paration of all fiftulous fmufes to leave the ori- 

 fice or opening as much declining as poffible, 

 that the matter may naturally pafs downwards, 

 without being fubjed: to a probability of re- 

 tention. 



Thus 



