456 OF ABSCESS. 



that we may inform ourselves, by less obvious signs, of the 

 actual state of the part. 



The treatment of abscess. — In the early stages of such 

 tumours, endeavour to forward them, through the applica- 

 tion of warmth and moisture, both of which are gained by 

 a poultice. A blister may likewise be applied to the sur- 

 face, and a poultice over that, when it is very important to 

 draw the abscess forward. Horse poultices, on account of 

 their magnitude, are generally formed of bran, upon which 

 boiling water is poured, and the whole well stirred together ; 

 or a very good poultice may be formed of hay, soaked in 

 hot water, any excess of moisture being squeezed out after- 

 wards. About a gallon of substance is sufficient for one 

 application. Being assured that maturation is completed, 

 the thickness of the integuments, and the fear of the exten- 

 sion of the suppurative process inwards, make it always 

 prudent to form an artificial opening in the more dependent 

 as well as prominent part of the tumour. This may be 

 done by direct section. Incision is eflfected by the abscess 

 knife : but in every case the opening should be sufficient to 

 give a ready exit to the matter which has formed, and that 

 which may subsequently^ be secreted. In some situations, 

 as where the natural outlet has appeared on a place we do 

 not desire it should point in, or where the abscess does not 

 point upon the precise spot we could have wished, it may be 

 prudent to make an incision in the natural prominence, 

 and insert a seton through the place we could desire the 

 fulness should have occupied. It is, however, necessary to 

 be careful in making the incision when it dips downwards, 

 that it is made in the course of the muscular fibres, and 

 not in the direction of considerable branches of nerves or 

 bloodvessels. 



Nothing further need be done for the eradication of an 

 abscess than the establishment of a free depending orifice. 

 All putting the finger into the opening and stirring it round 

 is unnecessary, to say the least of it. All injections are 

 objectionable, to speak of them in the mildest terms. 

 Should, however, the sac of an abscess display an indisposi- 

 tion to contract after its contents have been evacuated, 

 apply a blister over it, and when the effects have some- 



