410 
JUNIUS A. WATTLES. 
If you have not already satisfied yourselves on the subject, 
try my method of treating the suppurating diseases of the 
feet by injections of linseed oil, carbolic acid, and, where 
there is pain in the parts, the additon of chloroform. 
Two years ago, at our meeting of this association in Clin¬ 
ton, my subject was “Fistulous Withers,” and my theory at 
that time was, that it was a specific, contagious disease, and 
the same opinion still exists in my mind. But, leaving out 
the theoretical points, and considering nothing but the prac¬ 
tical phases, it seems to me that after we had seen this very 
common disorder treated for a lifetime by caustics and the 
knife, with the poorest sort of success, that we are justified in 
discarding, as far as possible, the irrational and barbarous 
methods and casting about for a new one. 
My observation convinces me that fistula is permanently 
cured by mild methods of treatment, and is aggravated by 
severe methods, and that a larger percentage of cases are 
cured by the very mildest applications, than are cured in any 
other way. 
With this idea in mind, my plan is to use unlimited appli 
cations of cold Avater, and when the abscess has not pointed 
or the formation of pus is limited, to use iodine in some one 
of its forms externally, and hypo-sulphite of soda internally 
In the cases where there is an external opening, the cole, 
water applications are the same, and the injections into the 
abscess are such as will produce the very least irritation, anc 
are used after thoroughly flushing out the cavity with clean 
cold water. My belief is that fistulous withers and malignanl 
carbuncle of man are first cousins. 
Another subject, and my effort to interest you is finished 
My paper on the subject of “ Hypodermic Injections in the 
Treatment of Ossific Diseases of the joints” has brought tc 
me many letters, and my suggestion to those who have noi 
already made a trial of such treatment is to do so, and make; 
some sort of a report at some of our meetings, as it is by acj 
interchange of ideas that we are able to progress toward the 
highest point of perfection in our truly honorable, scientific 
and humane profession. 
