300 PURGATION. 



fi7e of the tumour to be difcufled, and the 

 matter flu61uating from being ripe, the needle 

 may be introduced at the upper end of the 

 fwelhng, and the point conduced through the 

 whole length, and brought out at bottom ; if 

 neceflary, and for the fake of procuring a 

 depending orifice, the inflrument may be forced 

 through the found mufcular flefh. The feton 

 being properly fixed, let it be tied together at 

 both ends, or if the length will not admit of 

 that, affix a button of wood at each end, by 

 which it may be drawn upwards and down- 

 wards, as when tied, it may be turned in a 

 circle. When there (hall be no farther dif- 

 charge, and the fwelling fliall have fubfided, 

 withdraw the feton, and heal the orifices with 

 any fpirituous application. 



Bleeding. The well-known ufe of bleed- 

 in o^, is in all cafes of inflammation, or with the 

 intent of prevention, in chohc, fuppreffion of 

 urine, drains, blows, or other accidents. Phle- 

 botomy, in fraall quantities, is fometimes re- 

 curred to in weak and impoverifiied habits, in 

 order to remove the lentor of the blood, and 

 invigorate the circulation ; but in inflammatory 

 fever, it is the fiieet anchor, without the help 

 of which, it would be totally impoRible for 

 nature, human or brute, to outride the florm. 

 I had lately a remarkable infiance of this be- 

 fore my eyes ; the patient was an infant of 



eighteen 



