474 DISEASES OF THE HOKSE. 



heat in the form of poultices or anointing the tissue with oils and 

 fats will be found beneficial in hastening the dead tissue to slough 

 off. When the outer skin begins to suppurate, seize it with a pair of 

 pincers and draw it away. After this treat the patch as an open 

 wound. In moist gangrene the tissue should be thoroughly disin- 

 fected with creolin, lysol, or particularly an alcoholic tincture of cam- 

 phor. Continuous irritation with antiseptic fluids prevents the accu- 

 mulation and absorption of poisonous liquids. Incisions into the dead 

 tissue may be made, and when sloughing commences the tissue should 

 be removed with forceps and the resulting wound treated as in dry 

 gangrene. 



ULCERATION. 



An ulcer is a circumscribed area of necrosis occurring on the skin 

 or mucous membrane and covered with granulation tissue. It is a 

 process of destruction, and when this process is going on faster than 

 regeneration can take place, we have a gnawing, or eating, ulcer. 

 IVhen such an ulcer increases rapidly in size it is termed a phagedenic 

 ulcer. A fungoid ulcer is one in which the bottom of the ulcer pro- 

 jects beyond the edge of the skin. These ulcers secrete milky or 

 bloody-white liquid called ichor. ^Vlien the ulcer is of an ashen or 

 leaden color, with the bottom and sides formed of dense, hard con- 

 nective tissue which gives but little discharge and is not sensitive, it 

 is termed callous, torpid, or indolent ulcer. 



Causes. — As in the case of gangrene, disturbances of circulation are 

 among the most frequent causes. A wound to a tissue with slight 

 recuperative power may be followed by ulceration, as in tumors. 

 Certain germs may produce ulcers, as the glanders bacilli, which cause 

 the ulcerations on the nasal septum in glanders. 



Treatment. — This consists in removing at once the exciting cause. 

 The secretions of the ulcer should be washed off with antiseptic solu- 

 tions and the formation of granulation tissues stimulated by antisep- 

 tic salves, such as carbolated vaseline, lead ointment, or by dressings 

 of camphor. Air should be kept from the ulcer by occlusive dress- 

 ings. Where the ulcers are inflamed, warm lead water or lead water 

 and laudanum will be found efficacious. Callous ulcers are best re- 

 moved by a curet, knife, or hot iron and then treated like a common 

 wound. Mechanical irritation should be avoided. 



ABSCESSES. 



These consist of accumulations of pus within circumscribed walls, 

 at different parts of the body, and may be classed as acute, and cold, 

 or chronic, abscesses. 



Wlien an abscess occurs about a hair follicle it is called a boil or 

 furuncle; when several hair follicles are involved, resulting in the 



