Internally Peer Reviewed Father and I had boils at the same time when I was six. Neither was adequate treatment, but Father enjoyed his treatment much more than I did. Staphylococcal infections are largely confined to humans, although I have studied mastitis in cows caused by farmers with hospital acquired boils. The natural home of the staphylococcus is the hairy vestibule of the nose just as far up as the exploring finger will reach. Friction by frequent scratching and maceration or sogginess predispose the nose and skin to infection.
Boils occur most often on the face, head, neck, forearms and wrists in that order.
An inflamed nodule forms at the base of the hair which remains tense and very tender for 2-4 days and then, as it fills with pus, becomes fluctuant. The covering skin thins and forms a yellow point. Rupture occurs and a core of dead tissue may be obtained from the center of the boil. They come in crops but a second boil rarely appears until the first is almost absorbed. Often boils go on and on.