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Treatment of Boils

When by poultices of bread and linseed meal, to these appear, suppuration should be promoted which a little glycerine or fat or oil may be added, to prevent their getting hard. When poultices are inconvenient, exposure to the stimulating plasters, may be adopted instead. vapor of hot water, or the application of When sufficiently ripe, the boil should be opened with a lancet, the matter evacuated, and the wound dressed with a little simple ointment spread on a piece of clean lint or linen. The diet may be full and liberal until the maturation of the tumor and the discharge erably; there is the mild form, which gener- of the matter, when it should be lessened, ally yields to fomentation with hot water cloths or poultices; and if matter forms, if relieved by the lancet, it speedily heals; but there is a much more formidable affection, in which the deep textures of the finger are involved, accompanied by severe pain, throbbing, and much redness, heat, and swelling. This form is only to be relieved by free and early incisions with the lancet; for if this be neglected, the bones will become affected, and will be destroyed. It would therefore be advisable to submit the finger to the inspection of a surgeon when it does not easily yield to fomentations or a poultice. and the bowels opened by some saline purgatives, as salts or cream of tartar. When there is a disposition in the constitution to the formation of boils, the bowels should be kept regular, and tonics, as bark or steel, taken, with the frequent use of sea-bathing, if possible.