748 DISEASES AND THEIK TllEATMENT. 



companies it does not produce death, this red line becomes con- 

 verted into pus, and the dead part is removed by a process called 

 sloughing. 



General Treatment. — We will now merely notice the general 

 principles to be observed in the treatment of inflammation, leav- 

 ing the treatment of diflerent parts till we take them up in their 

 proper place. Our first thought must be to inquire into the cause 

 of the inflammation ; that being found and removed, the effects 

 will soon cease, without which a cure cannot be established. Mat- 

 ter may be forming in the foot,' indicated by intense pain, heat, 

 and great lameness. We may foment or poultice or do what we 

 may ; the removal of the faulty nail must be the first step in the 

 cure; and that done we will be able to attain our object by com- 

 paratively slight means. 



The remedial treatment may be divided into local and consti- 

 tutional. 



Local Treatment. — Our object is to produce resolution if possi- 

 ble. This will be best done by placing the patient in a cool, com- 

 fortable box. He must be secured, so as to give the inflamed 

 part complete rest ; and then the constant and copious application 

 of cold water, cooling lotions, and freezing mixtures, will retard 

 and often arrest the inflammatory process. Cold, to be of any 

 service, must be kept up for several hours, otherwise the reaction 

 it produces will do more harm than good. Should this not arrest 

 its progress, and the inflammation becomes accompanied by pain 

 and throbbing, heat must be substituted. Hot fomentations and 

 poultices soften and relax the tissues, thus opening the pores, and 

 encouraging the formation of matter, which, when matured, must 

 be opened and allowed to escape.* 



It is also advisable in severe cases to give a slight purging 

 ball; and if much fever, give warm drinks and a little fever 

 medicine. When as in sprain of the tendons, instead of going on 

 to suppuration, the swelling becomes callous, the inflammatory 

 action subsides, leaving the effusion unabsorbed. In this stage, 

 and only when heat and tenderness are gone, should blisters be 



* This is the course laid down by practitioners in general ; but in my experience 

 I have found that where there was much inflammation and pain, it was always ad- 

 visa^iie to use hot fomentations, and even repeating persistently until its severity 

 could be relieved, at the close leaving on the cloths until cool. 



