TIIE SETON, HOW APPLIED. H;) 



as may be learnt by consulting its construction at p. 20, of Book I. On the 

 escape of the matter, after ascertaining by a probe whether it runs in pipe?, ot 

 sinuse?, this way and that, or with small bits of diseased fibre or niembra.ie 

 stretching across the cavity, so as nearly to divide it into unequal parts — let 

 each be just touched with tlie knife or scalpel. There is no propriety in t!ie 

 old practice of squeezing out all the offensive matter from this kind of abscess, 

 although it be very proper in that deep-seated sort where no pipes, nor the 

 small cavities just spoken of, are to be ft>lt or seen, for the following reasons : 

 the first mentioned kind have the case or coestus before described, which von 

 tains the matter, and if laid open before the evil be sufficiently ripe, it doe 

 not come away freely. This, however, the operation efTectg in two or three 

 days, if kept running by means of a seton, or other contrivance placed at the 

 orifice; but the application of tow, or any other su'nstance, that obstructs the 

 escape of this mattei, is ever to be avoided. On the contrary, when the ab- 

 scess is verv deep, reaching to the bone, which may be felt, an<l presenting 

 but one largo cavity, then the matter should be expelled by pressing gently on 

 two sides of it at once. Let the lips of the opening be dressed the first lime, 

 and as long as it may be found necessary to keep open the wound, with any 

 ointment hereafter mentioned, on which has been strewed sulphate of copper, 

 powdered. Should the lips adhere together, or appear much diseased, wash 

 with muriate of ammonia, taking care it does not run upon the sound parts, 

 nor into the cavity. In either case, wash off the dead parts with warm water, 

 before each new dressing is laid, sponge it well and dry, after inserting the 

 prcbe on every side into the fistulous sinuses, and continue this mode of treat- 

 ment until the parts assume a healthy appearance. 



The seton should never be neglected in bad cases of either description, but 

 be introduced at the lowest or most depending side of the abscess, after being 

 wetted with the following 



Irritating Mixture. 



Spirits of wine, 2 ounces. 

 Corrosive sublimate, 1 scruple ; 



Mix and saturate the tape therewith daily. This will keep open the orifice 

 until the offensive matter has run off, and is succeeded by the more heahhy 

 issue of a thicker consistency, and nearly white. On this appearance the 

 st;ton is to be withdrawn, and the parts dressed with the digestive ointment, 

 the animal physicked once or twice with a moderate purging ball of six or 

 seven drachms of aloes, and the cure will complete itself with the usual dress- 

 ings, viz. 



Diffestive Ointment. — No. 1. 



Yellow wax, 



Rosin, ^ of each 1 pound. 



Burgundy Pitch, 



Turpentine (common) 4 ounces. 



Linseed oil, 20 ounces. 



( of( 



Dissolve over a slow fire, and spread upon leather or stout linen cloth, sufli 

 ciently large to come over the undiseased region of the evil, after the wound 

 has been well cleansed. Fresh dressings hereof should go on daily, but in no 

 case until the matter assume a healthy appearance, which it never can be 

 brought to, unless the whole recess has been reached with the knife of by th« 



