Manual of British Rural Sports

TREATMENT OF ACCIDENTS. 455 removed without any great pain; for If much is given, itis only necessary to raise the scissors still more, and, as it -were, drag the com out of its bed, when the pain ceases,and the excisionof that portion is effected. After removing thismall slice, another adjoining slice is to be taken hold ofand removed in the sameway, till all vestige of the hardened cuticle is gone; after which the part may either b covered with a piece of wash-leather spread with Boai>-plaister,or left to its fate. The former is ofcourse the better plan; but, if the com Isremoved aa often and as fast it grows, there is no necessity for adopting it. On the sole of the footthe scissors cannot be used,and this Isthe most unmanageable situation by far. It is almost impossible for the sufferer to cut these himself, either with a knife or scissors; and heshould remove them either, when dry, with a piece of coarse sandpaper fixedon a rounded surface, or, when soaked, witha piece of pumicestone. This treatment will sufficefor corns which are troublesome while training;but when rest can be given they should be removed, either with caustic, asdescribed for the loft com, or with tincture of iodine applied with a paint-brusii. In either case the cuticle should be firstpared down, and then one or other ofthe aboveremedies should beapplied; but the inflammation, especially after the second application, is considerable, and rest must generally be given. They are both, therefore, inadmissible in train­ ing. Bunions shouldhave two or three leeches applied to them every other day for » week, after which they may be left alone till the bites are well, and then they should be brushed with tincture of iodine every third day. This treatment will generally euilice, but not in very obstinate cases, puch cases, however, are seldom adapted for training, and therefore are not within my province. 805. U OILS —These are an effort of nature to get rid of a dead piece of cellular mem­ brane by means of inflammatory action. 1 fP nse( l u e'ice of some peculiar condition o the blood, of the exact nature of which "tie is known, a death (or sl ughing, as it called) of a portion of cellular membrane wses place close under the true skin; to move this foreign body nature sets up mnammation, which is invariably of a a 0 w I k'' conRtstive character. It appears iTrit. poisonous nature of the slough dent tlle surroun ding parts to such a gree as in some measure to interfere with a at,8or P tion , and,consequently, pammi and hardened circle of swelled skin is formed around the lo or . 1,1 most cases thethickening is sreat as to stop thecirculation in the interior of the circle, and the bollremains tationary for a long time. The only remedy for this condition is either tho application of some stimulating greasy application; such as a linseed poultice, or the divisionby means of the knile.Either of these remedies more or less speedily puts an end tothe inactive condition, a d then a healthy suppuration goes onto remove the cell, and by throwing up fresh granula­ tions, as they arecalled, to restore what has been removed. Such is the nature and ordinary treatment of aboil; but in training It is almost impossible to bear the useof the knife,if the boil Is on any part which is subjected to much friction. In other situations it may be used, but if a boil occu s on the seatof the rower, as is so often the case, if the knife is used, at least a week or ten days must be lost before the patient can expose the raw surface to the friction of the thwart. Here, therefore, the best plan Is to apply a plaister, spread on leather, and composed of equal parts of mercurial and opiate plaister. This stimu­ lates and relaxes the Inflamed vessels, and the opiate relieves the pain to a great degree; but even this Is only a partial remedy, as without rest it Is impossible tirely to relieve bolls. To those who are known to be subject to boils I would recommend, as prevention, the us of a wash ofnitrate of silver of the strength of 15 to 20 grainsto the ounce. This should be painted over the partevery night, and will, ofcourse, turn it moreor less black; but it seems to give tone to the vessels, and to prevent that low and congestive state which precedes the death of the cellular membrane; at all events it prevents the formation of boils. 306. H ERNIAOR R UPTURE is a mechanical protrusion of a portion of intestine, and. In the ordinary way, may be either at the navel or at the groin. Wherever it is, it requires the constant use (by day only) of a truss; and all that is required is, that the Instrument should be exactly adapted to the part which it has to perform. A rupture may begenerally distinguished from other tumours, even by an unskilled person, It the hand isplaced upon it during the act of coughing. At the moment when the cough Is heard, a strong impulse will be given to the hand, and the hernia will for a moment appear much harder and somewhat larger. This peculiar sensation can scarcely be mistaken, and the sufferershould at once proceed to a good surgical instrument maker, for the purpose of being fittedwith a good truss. If he Is not already in a position to make a selection from the many who profess tomake perfectly fitting trusses, he had better ask his usual professional