therefore, it has burst spontaneously, or from medicines, it is to be cured by means of pledgets spread with ointment, the pus being evacuated by degrees; but if not, it is to be opened in the manner to be described in the surgical part of the work. * * * * * COMMENTARY. All the writers referred to in the last Chapter may be consulted on the treatment of abscesses. See especially Aëtius. He recommends when suppuration is not taking place properly to apply barley meal, or bread boiled in the decoction of figs, to which if necessary may be added nitre, turpentine, or the like. When suppuration takes place, the abscess is to be opened where the skin is thinnest. (See Book 6.) The incision is to be made long and narrow, and if any putrid substance appear it is to be cut out. The opening is to be sprinkled with frankincense and suitable pledgets applied. When the neighbouring parts are inflamed a cataplasm will be the most proper application. When the ulcer is foul, turpentine and honey will serve for cleaning it; or applications containing verdigris may be used for the same purpose. After the ulcer is cleaned, first incarnants and afterwards incrassants are to be applied. For producing rupture of the abscess, he recommends various applications, such as ammoniac, and nitre triturated with vinegar, and the like. This account, however, is mostly taken from Galen. The treatment recommended by Celsus is nearly the same in principle. At first if the part be soft he recommends applications of a repellent and cooling nature: but if it is hard he directs us to use applications which digest and produce resolution, such as dried figs pounded. To such applications may be added equal proportions of ammoniac, galbanum, bees-glue, and birdlime, with somewhat less than one half of myrrh. The plasters and malagmata for this purpose are likewise to be applied. When these applications do not produce resolution, we must conclude, he says, that the abscess will ripen. The symptoms of an unripe abscess are strong motion of the arteries, weight, distension, pain, redness, and hardness; to which are to be added horror and fever if the abscess be large. When there is a remission of these symptoms, and the part becomes itchy, and somewhat livid or white, the suppuration is ripe, and the matter is to be let out by medicines or iron. Unless the opening be large he properly forbids tents or pledgets to be put into it. When these are used, however, lentils and honey, or pomegranate rind boiled in wine are to be applied over them. Whatever is applied must not be tightly bound.