Treatment. — When only a small portion of the gland is
affected, the application of cold lotion will sometimes disperse
the inflammation, especially if at the same time the breast be
drawn by breast-pump or drawing glass, and the breast be care-
fully supported by a sling made of a pocket-handkerchief, or
band of any convenient kind. Should these means not have
the desired effect of checking the course of the abscess, then
warm poultices should be applied, or some folds of soft linen
dipped in warm water and covered with oil-silk. From the
first, a full diet, with wine or beer, is preferable to low diet,
.and any depleting or weakening treatment should be avoided.
304 MEDICINAL.
After the matter has come to the surface, the continued
application of poultices will cause the abscess to burst; and, if
it points at one depending point, it is better left to take its
course. If, however, it should not point freely at one spot, but
at several, the opening of the most depending should be done
by the lancet.
Chronic Inflammation of the Breast. — Sometimes at
the time of weaning, a portion of the breast becomes tender
and hard, but does not give the pain or produce the redness of
"milk abscess." It occurs sometimes to young girls after
mumps, and at the period of puberty. In women, at the change
of life it also occurs. It readily follows also on a blow.
Treatment. — The treatment consists in improving or keep-
ing up the general health. The less that is done to the breast
in the way of local applications the better. The hardened lump
often rapidly disappears of itself.
Bright's Disease. — Degeneration of the Kidneys. — Symp-
toms.— This is a disease of a very grave nature, and one which
is seldom recovered from; but it is one of which it would be
difficult to give an intelligent description to non-professional
persons. Only the physician can treat it properly.
Bruises. — The variation of the colors of bruises is owing
to changes going on in the blood which has been effused under
the skin by violence. A bruise generally goes through all the
various tints from black to grcei.. and yellowish-green. Bruises
sometimes, from the large quantities of blood effused, become
inflamed and form abscesses.
Treatment. — To prevent or diminish discoloration from
bruises, it is well to apply cold or warm water as soon after
the violence has been done as possible. To allay the swelling
j;r inflammation which may follow, cooling lotions should be
used. A mixture of tincture of arnica and water has been
strongly recommended, but a mixture of spirit and water, or
spirit, vinegar and water, will be found quite as efficacious.
Spirits of wine, i oz; vinegar, i oz; water, to 4 oz.
Graze, or Abrasion. — An abrasion of the skin, or what is
commonly termed "barked skin," is the simplest form of a
wound. It consists in the superficial skin being rubbed off by
violence. This form of injury of course varies in severity as
the amount of violence varies.
Treatment. — For a slight abrasion a piece of linen or
linen wetted with cold water and covered with oil-silk or
gutta-percha tissue, will generally be sufficient dressing. Or it
may be covered with gold-beater's skin.
For a graze or bruised wound of considerable extent or
MEDICINAL. 305
Page 215
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Treatment. — When only a small portion of the gland is affected, the application of cold lotion will sometimes disperse the inflammation, especially if at the same time the breast be drawn by breast-pump or drawing glass, and the breast be carefully supported by a sling made of a pocket-handkerchief, or band of any convenient kind. Should these means not have the desired effect of checking the course of the abscess, then warm poultices should be applied, or some folds of soft linen dipped in warm water and covered with oil-silk. From the first, a full diet, with wine or beer, is preferable to low diet, .and any depleting or weakening treatment should be avoided.
After the matter has come to the surface, the continued application of poultices will cause the abscess to burst; and, if it points at one depending point, it is better left to take its course. If, however, it should not point freely at one spot, but at several, the opening of the most depending should be done by the lancet.
Chronic Inflammation of the Breast. — Sometimes at the time of weaning, a portion of the breast becomes tender and hard, but does not give the pain or produce the redness of "milk abscess." It occurs sometimes to young girls after mumps, and at the period of puberty. In women, at the change of life it also occurs. It readily follows also on a blow.
Treatment. — The treatment consists in improving or keeping up the general health. The less that is done to the breast in the way of local applications the better. The hardened lump often rapidly disappears of itself.
Bright's Disease. — Degeneration of the Kidneys. — Symptoms.— This is a disease of a very grave nature, and one which is seldom recovered from; but it is one of which it would be difficult to give an intelligent description to non-professional persons. Only the physician can treat it properly.
Bruises. — The variation of the colors of bruises is owing to changes going on in the blood which has been effused under the skin by violence. A bruise generally goes through all the various tints from black to green and yellowish-green. Bruises sometimes, from the large quantities of blood effused, become inflamed and form abscesses.
Treatment. — To prevent or diminish discoloration from bruises, it is well to apply cold or warm water as soon after the violence has been done as possible. To allay the swelling j;r inflammation which may follow, cooling lotions should be used. A mixture of tincture of arnica and water has been strongly recommended, but a mixture of spirit and water, or spirit, vinegar and water, will be found quite as efficacious. Spirits of wine, i oz; vinegar, i oz; water, to 4 oz.
Graze, or Abrasion. — An abrasion of the skin, or what is commonly termed "barked skin," is the simplest form of a wound. It consists in the superficial skin being rubbed off by violence. This form of injury of course varies in severity as the amount of violence varies.
Treatment. — For a slight abrasion a piece of linen or linen wetted with cold water and covered with oil-silk or gutta-percha tissue, will generally be sufficient dressing. Or it may be covered with gold-beater's skin.
For a graze or bruised wound of considerable extent or