T U M OURS. 183 



I now proceed to the explanation of a sim- 

 ple TUMOUR, or ABSCESS, taken in its fingle 

 view, as one effort of nature to relieve itfelf 

 from the v^^eight of an extravafated fluid coL 

 le<fted> and (the caufe being inflammatory) be- 

 come too tenacious for tranfpiration through 

 the cutaneous paiTages or pores of the ilcin, and 

 too vifcid to be again abforbed or taken into 

 the circulation. This is the principle of acftion, 

 whether proceeding from the grumous ftate of 

 the blood obftrudiing the finer paflages, accu- 

 mulating and ading by its Jiimulus upon the 

 irritable parts, or from an extravafation of fluid 

 .ejected from the veins or lymphatics, in con- 

 fequence of laceration from bruifes, or ruptures 

 from ftrains. It has been a predominant and 

 eftablifli^d practice to attempt repulfion, even 

 after the decifive formation of matter, by the 

 mofl: powerful fpirituous applications, thereby 

 inflaming the integuments and indurating the 

 contents ; not without a very great probability 

 of producing an inveterate ulcer, or loJig-JIand^ 

 ing fiflula. 



In all applications, whether external or in- 

 ternal, REASON will prove a very ufeful 

 ailiilant ^ pay due rejpeci to the indications 

 N4 of 



