a68 supplement. 



the general error has been produdlive of in- 

 conceivable mifchief. It has been the efta- 

 blifhed cuftom to form a combination of the 

 ftrongeft jftimulants human invention could 

 devife, without a fingle reflection upon (or one 

 .moment reverting to) the time inevitably ne- 

 ceflary for the extravafated contents to become 

 mature for their difcharge by a critical effort 

 of nature. 



It has been the unlverfal and long {landing 

 practice, in all tumours or inflammatory fwell- 

 ings threatening a formation of matter, to rely 

 entirely upon the effed of poultices (compofed 

 of the moft powerful ingredients), calculated to 

 ftimulate the parts and excite early digeilion. 

 However judicious and approved this pracfbice 

 may have been, it will admit of fome improve- 

 ment, and even that juftified by reafon and ex^ 

 perience ; conftantly obferving (from the quan- 

 tity of hair upon many horfes, in addition to 

 the thicknefs of the fldn) hov/ difficult it muft 

 be for the penetrative power of the poultice to 

 come into immediate cpntadt with the offending 

 and indigefted matter, as well as the long time 

 neceffary to obtain a difcharge by Jtich 7ne(ms 

 ^lone; I, in almoft every cafe of tumours, or 

 9 inflammatory 



