THE TEEATMENT OF DISEASES. 



ABSCESSES. 



AN abscess is usually regarded as a purely surgical affection, but no one willingly 

 submits to the ordeal of an operation, and really much may be done by appropriate 

 nifdicinal treatment. 



Probably the most generally useful remedy for abscess is sulphide of calcium. 

 When given quite at the commencement it will arrest or prevent the formation of 

 matter. When matter has already formed it diminishes and limits inflammation, 

 and quickly brings the abscess to a head. The judicious administration of 

 this remedy will often relieve us of the disagreeable necessity of having an abscess 

 opened by the lancet. For children who are subject to abscesses about the neck or 

 on the buttocks, sulphide of calcium proves singularly useful. It does admirably, 

 too, for a threatened abscess of the breast. In all these cases one of the sulphide of 

 calcium powders (Pr. 78),* or a pill of the same strength (Pr. 68), should be given 

 every two hours for three or four days, or longer if necessary. They will do 

 good, even when the abscess has commenced discharging. Should any difficulty 

 be experienced in inducing a child to take the powders, or should they cause 

 vomiting, the dose may be reduced to a half, or a third, or even a sixth ; but it 

 should still be given every two hours at all events, during the day. In. addition, 

 the part should be thickly smeared with a mixture of equal parts of glycerine 

 and extract of belladonna, and over this a good hot linseed-meal poultice should 

 be applied. The poultice should be changed frequently every two horn's if possible 

 and each time the application of the glycerine and belladonna should be renewed. 

 When a poultice is used to disperse inflammation, or to bring an abscess to a head, it 

 should be large, and should extend beyond the limit of the red and inflamed part, 

 but as soon as the abscess has come to maturity and has burst, the poultice should be 

 but little larger than the opening in the skin, through which the matter is escaping. 

 A large poultice applied over-long soddens and irritates the part, and is very apt to 

 bring out an eruption of little pimples. This mode of treatment rarely fails to do 

 good, and it can under no possible circumstances do any harm. 



From the success which attends the external application of belladonna to abscesses 

 it might be supposed that it would do good when given internally, and such is the 

 case. It has been found that taking belladonna will prevent the formation of 

 abscesses in the neck and elsewhere, and that even when matter is present it will 

 check the pain and inflammation. The internal administration will also be found 

 of service for the abscess of the breast which is so common in women who have been 

 obliged suddenly to give up suckling. From five to ten drops of tincture of belladonna 



* This and the other references are to the list of Prescriptions which are given together at the end 

 of this work. 



