188 THE POLL-EVIL. 



Distilled verdigrease, in powder, one ounce and 



a half: 

 Mix, and stir them all well together till nearly 



cold. 



Before this ointment is used, the abscess must 

 be well cleansed with a sponge and warm water ; 

 then dress the wound again with a skewer dipped 

 in the styptic (No. 139, p. 186); afterwards, take a 

 sufficient quantity of the ointment, and put it into 

 an iron ladle furnished with a spout, and while 

 another person heats it over the fire, take a wooden 

 spatula, about an inch and a half, or two inches 

 broad, and put it into the wound ; then, with your 

 left hand, hold it edgewise, so as to open it suffi- 

 ciently, and with your right hand pour into the 

 abscess the ointment whilst scalding hot. This 

 being done, lay a pledget of tow lengthwise along 

 the top of the wound, and close it together with 

 three or four stitches. This dressing must remain 

 a fortnight ; after which let it be well washed with 

 warm water, and scalded again as before; and, 

 at the expiration of three weeks, the mixture 

 must be repeated the same as before. The wound 

 should never be meddled with between the dress- 

 ings, only take care to keep his neck clean. The 

 wound will, in general, run for three or four weeks 

 after the last time of dressing. This method the 

 author has tried in very bad cases, and seldom 



