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the sulphate of copper or of zinc, by coming in contact 

 with a large surface of granulating mucous mem- 

 brane, can hardly be expected to allay its irritability, 

 or dispose it to take on a healthy action ; and a seton, 

 forced barbarously through the orifices made with the 

 trephine, can only exist as a foreign agent, keeping 

 up the action which the surgeon is desirous should 

 terminate. Gentle means are, in every sense, the 

 ones to be adopted. Mild tepid injections are to be 

 employed, with the intention to wash out the accu- 

 mulated pus, allay the inflammation that caused it 

 to be secreted, and correct the diseased tendency of 

 the part. All stronger agents are barbarous ; and I 

 have witnessed animals rendered dangerously vicious 

 by their employment. "When, however, the acute 

 stage has past ; when the inflamed and secreting 

 surface has lost its activity, not unfrequently succeeds 

 a dull, lethargic state, which the mild treatment, 

 hitherto advised, will not touch : now it is that sti- 

 mulating injections are beneficial ; and however 

 much reason there was in the first instance to de- 

 nounce their employment, they are now indicated by 

 the soundest principles of scientific practice. Even 

 at this time, however, they must not be pushed too 



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