The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-01-09
DON'T NURSE A BOII-TREAT 1T

DONl NVNSE "a DOAA@AR MAI u
A boil (furuncle) is a household
size abscess produced when the COM
mon germs of suppuration penetrate
through the hair follicle, sweat or Sc
baceous gland to the tissues under the
skin. It isn't boil if it hasn't a
"core"-that is. the small slough
which is extruded when the boil Is
ripe The core" consists of the
hair folliclc and perhaps the sweat or
sebaceous gland tissue which has I'M
dergone coagulation necrosis.
We may as we'll acknowledge at the
beginning that no known antiseptic
or germicide. short Of complete de-
struction of the infected tissues by
cauterizing by heat or chemical, is of
the slightest value in the treatment of
boil. so far as the patients inme-
date welfare goes. However. mild
antiseptic lotions, baths or dressings
are advisable in every case to prevent
spreading Of the infection to other
persons or to another place on the
patients own skin. For this purpose
believe ordinary soap and water is
as effective as any remedy we can use;
or as an alternative, a solution of a
rounded teaspoonful of boric acid in
a pint of boiled water.
II your purpose is to nurse the boil
in order to get all the sympathy. time
off or compensation possible for it,
poultice it with large meal poultice.
r1~s 0tct ryiv tNcvN nV.0 n =
comfort. and the warmth, darkness.
food and moisture provide ideal con-
ditions for the multiplication of the
pus- germs. With luck and persistence
maybe you can grow two or several
boils where only the one grew before.
Or if you do not succeed in your mi
crobiculture you will probably have
the satisfaction of seeing someone who
associates woth you laid low by some
serious infection.
The comfort one derives from a
poultice is quite as readily obtained
from a clean. antiSepic dressing Of
many crumped yards of washed cheese
cloth lgauze) held in place with a
bandage and kept constantly moisten-
ed with hot soap and Water or bOric
acid solution. If the boil has not yet
opened. or If drainage has not yet
been established, it is a good plan to
include with the rounded teaSpoonful
Of boric acid two rounded teaspoon
fuls of common salt in each pint of
boiled water used to wet the dressing.
If complete immersion Of the boil and
dressing is convenient prolonged hot
soaking in such solution is excellent
treatment.
One With a pustule which looks or
feels like a young boil should care
fully avoid touching the spot with bare
fingers. If the fingers do come in
contact with pustule. it is important
to wash the hands thoroughly with
soap and water at once. lest some yir-
| ulent pus-germS be carried on the
fingers and planted elsewhere on ones
own skin or the skin of another. per-
haps to produce another boil or far
more serious septic infection. The
same precaution should be followed in
handling or disposing Of dressings, or
clothing that has been in contact with
the boil AS the germs enter the hair
follicle from the surface of the skin
in the first place. it is logical to as
sumo they are present on the skin over
the sore spot before the boil breaks or
is opened.
Whether or when to open boil or
let 1t run its course is as difficult a
question as is the question whether
or when to bet the pot or fold in q
game Of red dog. You's your own