DISEASES OF THE LATERAL CARTILAGES 333 
Treatment (Preventive).—Immediately after the infliction 
of an injury in this position, more especially if it is such as 
to lead one to judge that necrosis will follow to any large 
extent, the patient should be rested. II] effects may then 
be probably warded off by having the foot immersed in a 
cold antiseptic solution, and afterwards bound with an anti- 
septic pad and bandage. 
Curative-—When the condition has gone undiscovered 
until commencing necrosis and suppuration are plainly 
discernible, then the wisest course we can follow is to do all 
we can to hasten removal of the necrosed portion. 
This is best done by promoting the suppurative process 
by means of warmth or stimulant applications. 
To this end hot poultices, or, better still, hot baths, 
should be resorted to. Under their influence a greater 
supply of blood is directed to the still healthy tissues 
enabling them to actively continue the inflammatory pro- 
cesses necessary to the detaching of the portion necrosed, 
while, at the same time, the pus organisms, stimulated by 
the heat, are stirred into greater activity, and the readier 
accomplish their purpose of destroying the adhesion still 
existing between the necrotic portion and the surrounding 
living tissues. 
When prolonged poulticing or bathing cannot be prac- 
tised, then the swelling should be stimulated with a sharp 
cantharides blister, repeated, if the case demands it, at 
intervals of a few days. 
Should the swelling show distinct signs of pointing, and 
an abscess is plainly the condition to be dealt with, its con- 
tents should be liberated by a free use of the knife. In this 
connection it is important to insist on the fact that the 
opening should be made large enough. One bold incision 
from the uppermost limit of the swelling down to the 
coronary margin of the wall is usually sufficient. 
Even when pointing is not very evident, and suppuration 
is plainly more or less diffuse, benefit may still be derived 
from the use of the knife. In this case a deep scarification 
of the part is indicated. Three, four, or more vertical 
