ON UNGUENTUM TABACI. 
23 
Dating pain and chill, which characterize the onset of the 
suppurative stage having been developed, and the tumor 
presents that glazed appearance which precedes the pointing 
of the abscess. I have a lady under treatment at this time 
who lias suffered from milk abscess after each of her con- 
finements, (four in number,) so that the breast has become 
entirely useless to her; not being aware of this fact when 
she came under my care a few weeks since, my attention 
was not particularly directed to the breasts, till on one of 
my visits, I found she had had a chill, followed by fever, 
and sharp, cutting pains in the left mamma: the gland was 
much swelled, and just under the nipple was a shining pro- 
tuberance indicating the locality for pointing. A muslin 
cloth the size of the gland, was spread with the ointment, 
and the whole surface covered with it immediately, — the 
nipple presenting through an opening in the muslin. In 
about twenty-four hours, the application being frequently 
repeated, the pain and induration were partially relieved, 
and the patient gradually recovered. Within the last two 
years 1 do not recollect to have seen a <• gathered breast," 
though my opportunities for meeting with this form of dis- 
ease have been four fold, in comparison with any former 
period — but I have frequently seen in that time the mam- 
mary gland swelled, painful, and threatening suppuration. 
Constitutional means are not of course omitted in cases 
where their usual signs are present." 
