The arguments, then, against the excision, are not to be drawn from its danger, but from the pain which it produces, and from the number of glands which must frequently be removed, and which might perhaps be resolved without coming to suppuration. It is likewise at times dangerous to extirpate these tumors, on account of their situation. On the other hand, when only one gland is affected, when it is superficial, and has continued so long, in spite of our remedies, that there is little probability of resolving it, then, by extirpation, we procure a speedy cure, and avoid a tedious disagreeable ulcer, and unseemly cicatrix. The existence of the scrophulous inflammation, and particularly the ulceration, has a tendency to increase the scrophulous diathesis, or peculiar mode of action of the system. By cutting this short, therefore, we prevent that evil, and render the system less susceptible of the scrophulous inflammation, and the chance of communicating the disease to the progeny less. It may also be said, that the wound, after the extirpation, might not heal readily; but the testimony of many writers, as well as what I have observed myself, convince me that this is not the case; for the readiness with which the skin unites and heals, when not previously diseased, produces a speedy cure; whereas, had the diseased gland remained below, and the specific inflammation been propagated to the skin, the ulceration must have been tedious. Upon the whole, then, in determining on the propriety of extirpation, we must consider whether there be only one gland affected, or an incipient disease in a chain of glands; and, if only one, whether there be a probability of this one suppurating; and whether the advantage of an early removal of the affected part will not be counterbalanced by our losing the chance of restoring the part, and of preserving its functions and utility, as, for instance, in scrophulous inflammation of the breasts, testicle, joints, &c. Caustics have been proposed with the same view as the incision; but they are more tedious, produce extensive ulceration, greater pain, and are much less certain than the operation.