ROMAN  CHAMOMILE  IN  SERIOUS  SUPPURATIONS.  239 
advanced  too  far,  and  of  drying  them  up  when  they  have  existed 
for  a  long  time. 
For  this  purpose  the  medicament  is  administered  in  large 
doses ;  an  infusion  of  5,  10,  or  even  30  grammes  of  flowers  to  one 
quart  of  water,  to  be  drunk  during  the  day,  until  the  cure  is 
complete.  Moreover,  the  remedy  may  be  applied  locally  by 
means  of  compresses  soaked  in  it.  This  sustains  the  medical 
action,  but  does  not  cause  the  principal  effect,  since  that  can  be 
perfectly  developed  either  with  or  without  local  application. 
Thus  this  property  of  camomile  must  be  regarded  as  arising  from 
a  general  action  on  the  economy,  and  not  as  the  result  of  a  local 
action. 
First  Case. — (May  and  June,  1849). — A  man,  aged  33. 
Phlegmonous  erysipelas  of  the  face  and  scalp.  Five  enormous 
abscesses  denuding  all  the  bones  of  the  cranium,  which  were 
covered  with  a  cap  of  pus  ;  a  sixth  abscess  was  formed  at  the 
angle  of  the  lower  jaw;  continuous  delirium,  and  violent  fever, 
(pulse  140),  complete  prostration  of  strength :  employment  of 
camomile  the  twenty-eighth  day  (30  grammes  per  day),  sup- 
puration increased  for  the  first  few  days;  I  decreased  the 
dose  to  to  15  grammes,  rapid  diminution  of  suppuration  at 
the  end  of  twenty  days'  treatment,  the  patient  left  completely 
cured. 
Second  Case — (July  to  November,  1849).- — A  man,  aged  35. 
Phlegmonous  erysipelas  of  the  foot,  leg,  and  thigh.  Fourteen 
successive  abscesses,  very  soon  communicating  together,  for  the 
length  of  more  than  60  centimetres  (about  24  inches) ;  denuda- 
tion of  the  bones  of  the  foot,  of  the  tibia,  and  of  the  femur ; 
enormous  suppuration  ;  and  at  the  end  of  three  months,  the 
patient  was  in  a  completely  cachectic  state  ;  amputation  of  the 
thigh  was  proposed  as  a  last  resource,  but  the  patient  refused. 
I  then  commenced  the  employment  of  the  camomile  (30  grammes 
per  day)  ;  return  of  strength,  progressive  diminution  of  sup- 
puration, the  flesh  was  sustained  by  sytematic  compression ; 
cure  at  the  end  of  six  weeks  without  any  other  treatment. 
Third  Case.— (May,  1855) — A  man,  aged  26,  Obstinate 
