58 DISEASES OF THE AIR-PASSAGES. 



bronchitis^ strangles, influenza, catarrli, or even cougli — it 

 will probably be requisite to employ measures which may 

 either have a tendency to withdraw any remaining inflam- 

 mation or increased action, or to cause absorption of any 

 eff'usions or deposits that may have taken place in conse- 

 quence of such inflammatory action. Should emollient means, 

 such as fomentation, poultice, steaming, &c. seem to have done 

 their utmost, and continuance in them appears no longer 

 advisable, issues, such as setons, may prove useful, either 

 through or in the vicinity of the parts aff'ected, on the score 

 of local depletion or derivation. The tissues are likely to 

 be resolved in suspected cases of consolidation, by sweating 

 or else by full blisters ; their repetition being indicated 

 when neither resolution nor suppuration has been pro- 

 duced. Instead of blistering such places, however, where 

 causing absorption appears to be rather the indication, oint- 

 ments of a composition known to promote this are to be pre- 

 ferred. Either strong mercurial ointment with camphor may 

 be well rubbed into the part, in due proportion to the extent 

 of surface, twice a day ; or an iodine ointment may be em- 

 ploj^ed ; with many practitioners, the two ointments in com- 

 bination are highly extolled, and I believe with reason, 

 since their efficacy iu promoting absorption is universally 

 admitted to be great. The simple and best ointment of 

 this sort is that made with the chemical compound — 



R Hydrarg. Deuto. ioduret, 3SS ; 

 Adipis, 3J. M. 



This, mixed with an equal quantity of mercurial ointment, 

 forms an excellent application. 



Let this be well rubbed in with the hand once daily for 

 three or four days in succession ; when it will be found to pro- 

 duce a scurfy sort of slough of separated hair and cuticle. At 

 this time the friction must be discontinued for a few days, 

 though, as soon as the parts have returned to their former con- 

 dition, renewed again. This will not infrequently succeed 

 better than blisters, and not only here but in other cases of 

 hke chronic tumefaction, condensation, and induration of parts. 

 The absorbent energies of the system may be further roused 



