BLISTERS. 129 



Blisters are used for the reduction of enlargements left 

 by inflammation. But in such cases their employment is for- 

 bidden, so long as the inflammation continues. Yet, by their 

 after-application, we revive it : but then, we only originate 

 irritation of a superficial description, such as, after the decline 

 of the greater action, proves a stimulus to the absorbents ; 

 which is the object we seek when we blister a tumour. 



Stimulating Applications. — By which we understand 

 such as create irritation without raising vesicles. Cantharides, 

 as well as other blistering agents, may, by dilution, be con- 

 verted into a simple stimulant. Water may be heated to a 

 degree which will scald without occasioning blisters. As a 

 stimulating application or rubefacient, I find our Lin. Am- 

 nion, c. Terebinth, excellent. Under the jaw in cough or sore 

 throat, to the breast in bronchitis or pneumonia, to the 

 belly in abdominal pain or colic, to the shoulder in shoulder- 

 lameness, &c., I find it most useful. One gentle rubbing 

 produces simply rubefaction, without causing the hair to fall 

 off the part ; the second rubbing is apt to endanger that ; 

 the third is certain to occasion depilation. Ammonia wdll 

 blister, though it is commonly used but as a stimulant. 

 There are, however, some applications which, though stimu- 

 lating to the highest degree, will not blister. The turpen- 

 tines, mustard, and diluted escharotics have this character. 

 Formerly terebinthinate applications were emploj^ed to the 

 skin for the purpose of producing counter-irritation : they 

 are, however, found to occasion so much excitement of the 

 nervous system, that they appear to be productive of harm 

 rather than good. Mustard has no such spreading in- 

 fluence ; its action is more circumscribed ; at the same time 

 it makes an impression where hardly anything else will act. 

 We sometimes use it as a counter-irritant where blisters 

 fail or are objectionable. Probably the most useful of all 

 these applications is the tartarized antimony ointment : 



Take of Tartarized Antimony, 5J ; 



Hog's Lard, 3J. 

 Triturate well together. 



About a drachm of this rubbed dailv into any indurated 

 I. ' 9 



