Two days afterwards, the swelling and pain were nearly gone. The poultice was merely continued, the caustic not being requisite from the subsidence of the inflammation. The patient came to me again in four days more quite free from pain and swelling. The poultice was discontinued, and the caustic was then applied in order to form an adherent eschar, in which I was successful. This case illustrates many important points; 1. it shows the efficacy of the caustic with the poultice as a remedy against inflammation; 2. it presents an instance of a labouring man returning to work on the sixth or seventh day after a severe accident, even when the application of the caustic had been unfortunately delayed; 3. it points out the proper treatment, when all hope of the treatment from the first by adherent eschar is lost from such delay,--for had this been attempted in this case, suppuration would doubtless have taken place from the closed state of the puncture by the swelling;--our objects must therefore be, to open the puncture and to subdue the inflammation, and these objects are admirably attained by means of the caustic. The following case is not less instructive. CASE V. Mr. Cocking's son, aged 12, received a stab in the palm of the hand from a penknife three days ago, which has been followed by much swelling and pain, the punctured orifice being nearly closed. I applied the lunar caustic as deep as possible within the puncture and directed a cold poultice to be laid over the whole hand. On the next day I found that the poultice had not been applied; there were more pain and swelling; an eschar was formed over the puncture which I removed and thus gave issue to a considerable quantity of pus; I again enjoined the application of a cold poultice kept constantly moist and cold with water. On the succeeding day, the inflammation had greatly subsided. I repeated the application of the caustic and poultice. On the fourth day the inflammation had nearly disappeared and on the fifth entirely. In such cases the caustic unites the advantages of at once opening the puncture and of subduing the inflammation, thus preventing the formation of deep-seated abscesses. CASE VI. A little boy, aged 12, received a stab by a penknife a few days ago, in the fore part of the thigh; there are now great pain and swelling, the orifice is nearly closed, and he has feverishness with headach. I applied the lunar caustic deeply in the wound, and directed a poultice and a cold lotion to be kept upon the inflamed parts; and suspecting fascial inflammation, I took away ten ounces of blood and administered purgative medicine. On the next day, the inflammation had greatly subsided; the cataplasm and lotion were continued. On the third day, there was some inflammation round the puncture which appeared to be closing; I repeated the application of the caustic within the orifice of the wound.