132 TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATION. 



possess superior efficacy to rowels and to blisters. There is 

 great delusion in all this. A seton is neither more nor less 

 than an elongated rowel ; and is no more adapted to take 

 the place of a blister than is a rowel : both are useful in chronic 

 cases, without possessing any other conspicuous advantages 

 than result from their individual fitness to the situation. It 

 used to be the custom to insert setons with red-hot pointed 

 irons : this barbarity, however, has pretty generally given 

 way to the equally efficacious method of introducing them 

 with instruments made for the purpose, called seton-needles : 

 of the forms of these the representation on the opposite page 

 will convey sufficient idea to enable any one to purchase, or 

 to get them made. 



The skin should first be cut with the rowelling scissors, 

 whether the sharp or the blunt seton needle be used. The 

 latter will be found the preferable in every situation where 

 it can be thrust through the subcutaneous tissue : in fact, 

 the sharp-pointed needles are but seldom used. The blunt 

 needle, having tape inserted, is fixed in the handle. The 

 skin is next snipped with the rowelling scissors, and the 

 seton needle being put through the incision, is made to 

 break down the cellular tissue under the integument by the 

 strength of the operator. When it reaches the point to 

 which it is desired the seton should reach, another small 

 cut is made with the rowelling scissors, and, the handle 

 being removed, the needle is withdrawn through the open- 

 ing. The tape is then divided close to the instrument, and 

 being tied in a knot at either end, large enough to prevent 

 it slipping through the channel, the operation is ended. 

 When a sharp needle is employed, the rowelling scissors 

 need not be twice used. All that is then required, is to 

 force the skin against the point, and the instrument will cut 

 its own passage. 



