The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-12-26

n xecoenfxed Mod<rn Treatm<nt aof
~ B0lls and CArbu1sIesSeAANs ~ :.
M 5lAs ]. 1gls y AZ! / D |. n !!..|sg
physicians that both carbuncles and
boils are purely local troubles, and Of
parasitic nature In former times they
were considered Of constitutional origin
and the fault Of the blood. The actual
exciting cause is now held to be mi
crococcus, and when this first estab-
fishes itself in the skin the fact is man
ifested by pimple. Once implanted,
the germs multiply and spread, and as
the tissues around the original center
or pimple become infested there is ex-
tended Inflammation and swelling.
With the germ theoryof boils practical
I " established, 1t folloms=thaE they are
contagious, and 1t is now accepted that
they are markedly 80, and that where
crops occur it is in consequence OF
sclf-infecti6n-"e leach successive boil
being due to the implantation in the
skin Of fresh seeds or germs from the
preceding one Not only by a system.
Of seif-inoculation may person kept
up a continuous outbreak of boils, but
1t Is possible for him to cause an erup-
ton OF the same in others. Intimate
contact is necessary in order that the
essential germs may be transmitted
from one person to another sharing
the same bed or wearing the same cloth
ing furnishes the favorable conditions.
Carbuncles are not identical with boiIs--
they differ in many respects they
evidently are relatives, even il some
what distant, and are alike in some re-
spects. Both, it is safe to assume, are
purely local and of parasitic nature.
When these facts became evident to
physicians, =ef.eourse they changed
their treatment. Once, in treating car
buncles, the rule was to make very
free incisions, and number of
Them, generally quartering the
abscess, and that had to be done early.
Then there was scraping to do, the
sloughing and diseased mass being, as
far as possible, removed. At the pres
ent time that sort of treatment is COM
paratively rarely applied, except in adj.
vanced stages of the disease, but, in
stead, as soon as the carbuncle comes
as rule, tries to stay its progress BY
tire means OF some agent Which VIII de-
stroy the mass of germ growth. Car
bolic acid, but slightly diluted by means
of glycerine, is the most popular rene
dy. That is injected into the carbuncle
in a number Of places for several days.
Considerable pain results from the oper-
alton but it generally lessons much in
the course Of two or three hours. The
benefit Of the treatment is usually no
ticeable in twenty-four hours, and in
three or four days often the disease is
arrested, the pain and swelling steadily
subsiding. When it is considered that
under the old state of treatment OF car
buncles intense suffering persisted for
days and days, and recovery was delayed
for weeks, it will appear that the new
method is far in advance. Besides that,
when it is applied early. there need be
practically little danger from the dis
ease, where once it often killed. In a
very early stage of carbuncles-and it is
the same with boils-it is almost always
possible to abort them by keeping them
soaked in some antiseptic solution. But
the period when that treatment can be
Eeffecti We soen passes. The conclusions
from the foregoing are that people who
are threatened with boils or carbuncles
should seek medical advice early-not
wait, as they now generally do, until
they think the trouble shas come to a
head" and the knife is needed.-Boston
Herald