TUMOURS. 1S3 



I now proceed to the explanation of a sim- 

 ple TUM0UR5 or ABSCESS, taken in its fingle 

 view, as one effort of nature to relieve itfelf 

 from the weight of an extravafated fluid col- 

 lected, and (the caufe being inflammatory) be- 

 come too tenacious for tranfpiration through 

 the cutaneous paffages or pores of the flcin, and 

 too vifcid to be again abforbed or taken into 

 the circulation. This is the principle of aftion, 

 whether proceeding from thegrumous ftate of 

 the blood obftruding the finer paiTages, accu- 

 mulating and ading by its ftitnukiis upon the 

 irritable parts, or from an extravafation of fluid 

 eje6led from the veins or lymphatics, in con- 

 fequence of laceration from bruifes, or ruptures 

 from ftrains. It has been a predominant and 

 eftablifhed pradice to attempt repulfion, even 

 after the decilive formation of matter, by the 

 moft powerful fpirituous applications, thereby 

 inflaming the integuments and indurating the 

 contents ; not without a very great probability 

 of producing an inveterate ulcer or long-Jiand^ 

 ing fiftula. 



In all applications, whether external or in- 

 ternal, REASON will prove a very ufeful af- 

 fiftant; pay due r^^^ to the indications 

 N 4 of 



