The inflammation attending the formation of an hepatic abscess, will usually extend to the peritoneum, resulting in the formation of adhesions to the adjoining organs, and thus preventing the abscess, in many instances, from discharging into the peritoneal cavity, as it otherwise would be likely to do. Abscesses thus formed, may discharge: 1st, by the adhesive process through the diaphragm into the chest, and if adhesions had previously taken place between the diaphragm and lung, by an extension of the ulcerative process, the matter may find its way into the bronchial tubes, and thus be discharged by expectoration; 2d, by a similar process into the stomach, duodenum or colon; 3d, upon the surface of the body; and 4th, within the peritoneal cavity. In the latter case, death is inevitable; in the others recovery is possible. The following case illustrates discharge and recovery by the first method: CASE.—_Abscess of the Left Lobe of the Liver, discharging through the diaphragm, a portion of the matter expectorated, the balance discharged upon the surface of the body—Recovery._ In the winter of 1856–7, I was called to see Mrs. B——, aged 40, of Broad street. She had been given up by the physicians previously in attendance. Found her greatly emaciated, suffering from a terrible cough, and expectorating great quantities of excessively offensive matter. Diarrhœa, hectic fever, night sweats, with occasional chills, completed the picture, and appeared to render the case perfectly hopeless. Upon inquiry, learned that she had been taken ill some months previously, with what the attending physician had pronounced as acute hepatitis. After the usual acute symptoms, the formation of an abscess became evident from the fulness in the region of the left lobe, accompanied with chills, hectic, etc. A violent cough, with evidences of inflammation in the left lung, accompanying the other symptoms, the case was supposed to be complicated with tuberculosis. The expectoration finally became greenish, thick and exceedingly offensive, indicating that the abscess had worked its way into the bronchial tubes. In examining the chest, after the case had been under my care a few days, I noticed between the ninth and tenth ribs a fulness and slight redness. After the application of poultices for a few days, a distinct “pointing” appeared, from which, after the use of the lance, came a most copious discharge of the same green, offensive matter, as was being discharged by expectoration. From this time, a slight improvement was noticed in the patient. The external opening was carefully kept from closing. The cough gradually improved. Little or none of the offensive matter was raised after the establishment of the external opening. In six months the health was fully restored, and now, fifteen years after, she is a stout, healthy woman.