A dictionary of domestic medicine and household surgery / by Spencer Thomson.

  • Thomson, Spencer, 1848-1883.
Date:
1897
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dictionary of domestic medicine and household surgery / by Spencer Thomson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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A B S A B S contained matter or pus may be either of a healthy or of an unhealthy character; if the former, it is of a yellowisli-white colour, cream- like in consistence, and possessing a laint sicklj odour; in the latter case it may resemble whey, with bits of curdy substances floating in it, or it may be bloody, foetid, &c. Abscesses are either acute or chronic, and may occur in nearly every tissue of the body. The first symptoms of an acute abscess are heat and tenderness of the part, followed by throbbing pain. If the matter is deeply seated, no external marks may be visible for. a time; when it is near the surface, the skin quickly, ex- hibits inflammatory swelling; this continuing, it becomes thinner with more or less rapidity, until, at last, it gives way, and permits the matter to escape. Such is the natural course of what we may call a healthy abscess; but that course is necessarily modified by the position and coverings of the collection of matter. Ab- scesses do not always discharge through the skin, they may do so internally. Generally, as soon as the contents of an abscess are discharged, the pain which has previously been severe, ceases. Boils maybe classed as abscesses; they contain a distinct core or slough. Chronic abscesses may continue for weeks or months without change, but give comparatively little pain; they occur in weak or scrofulous subjects, and very generally in glandular tissues. In addition to pain and swelling, the sense. of fluctuation, as of fluid contained in a bag, which an abscess conveys to the finger, is a symptom valuable in obscure cases; but when it is most valuable, it requires the educated touch of the surgeon to discover it. On the first suspicion of an acute abscess, frequent fomentation with water as hot as it can be borne, may succeed, if purgative medicine be given at the same time, in preventing its formation; but if it does not do this, it will then assist and hasten its pro- gress, while it soothes pain. When it is toler- ably certain that matter is formed, thick, warm, soft poultices must bo continually applied to the part, the position of which should be regu- lated with as much regard to ease as possible. It is sometimes the popular custom to apply irri- tants, such as honey, soap-and-sugar, and such like, to boils or abscesses, with the view of assisting or “breaking” them; the practice is both hurtful and cruel, and ought never to bo followed. For fomentation, simple water; and for poultice, bread or linseed, are most generally applicable; when thcro is much pain, decoction of poppy-heads may bo used for either, with advantage. Medical men arc in the habit of opening abscesses, or boils, with the lancet or knife, but as to do this safely in every case requires anatomical knowledge, the unprofes- sional should bo content with simply relieving and assisting the painful progress by the means mentioned, till the matter is discharged natu- rally. After this happens, poulticing ought to be persevered in for a few days, and then ex- changed for simple water-dressing, which must be continued till tho part is well. A little opening medicine should at the same time be given. Many persons are in the habit of squeezing abscesses after the matter discharges; the practice is useless and painful; very gentle pressure only is admissible. A chronic ab- scess is serious, from the indication it gives of a weak and unhealthy condition of body, and may also be so from size or position. The formation of an acute abscess is generally accompanied with more or less general in- flammatory fever. In a chronic abscess, when there is fever, it has more of the hectic character, and is accompanied with night perspirations. A chronic abscess usually requires speedy eva- cuation artificially, and constitutional treatment is always called for: the first ought always to be done by a medical man, and the latter also, to be effectually carried out. Good light nourishment, with a due proportion of animal food, is indispensable; milk, if it agrees; wine or malt liquor, if there is not much fever. Regulation of the bowels by simple aperients—■ iron, mineral acid, with infusion of bark, and cod-liver oil, are the most generally applicable remedies in the constitutional treatment of chronic abscess. Refer to —• Suppuration — Poultice— IValer- dressinq—Fever-hectic—Spine. ABSINTHE or ABSINTHIUM — wormwood—has long been used as a bitter tonic and as a worm remedy, both in this country and on tho continent. It is omitted from the British Pharmacopeia, and its place is very properly taken by the active principle called santonin, which is one of the most valuable additions to our stock of medicines. There are various species of Artemisia absinthium, the un expanded flower heads of which constitute santonica, from which santonin is prepared. Absinthe is also the name given to an intoxi- cating drink, much used in France, Algiors, &c.; its effects are thus described:— Absinthism. — According to Dr. Emile Decaisne, the consumption of absinthe has of late years increased to an enormous extent in France. It is made by infusing in alcohol ends of wormwood, both major and minor (sommittis d'absinthe, from which the liquor takesitsname), angelica root, Calamxis aromaticus, aniseed, dittany seeds, and common marjoram. Some distillers, however, vary the recipe, and use fennel, mint, and balm. Tho concentration of tho degree of tho alcohol is generally very high. Indigo, tincture of turmeric, juice of hyssop, and nettles, are called to aid to improve tho colour and appearance of the pernicious draught. Tho effect of absinthe is to produce a superabun- dant activity of tho brain, a cerebral excitement which at first is agreeable. The intoxication “comes on rapidly, tho head swims, and the effect produced is nearly the samo as that of poisoning by a narcotic, which certainly does not occur with an equal dose of brandy. With the