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Bruises Case Xviii

Categories: ON THE APPLICATION OF THESE MODES OF TREATMENT TO PARTICULAR CASES.
Sources: Application Of The Lunar Caustic In The Cure Of Certain Wounds And Ulcers

Mrs. C. aged 40, was detained on a journey by a bruised wound on her

knee, received a fortnight before, which was healing very slowly under

the usual mode of treatment. The inflammation was subsiding but the

sore was extremely irritable and painful, and she was prevented from

moving. From the degree of inflammation still present, I applied the

lunar caustic very slightly over the sore and not over the inflamed

skin; I
eft the eschar to dry, but was very doubtful, from the same

cause, whether it would be adherent or no.



On the succeeding day I found that the eschar did remain adherent and

that the inflammation was diminished, and the soreness had entirely

subsided after that induced by the caustic had ceased.



On the next day, the lameness was gone, and there was no sort of

inconvenience from the wound. My patient continued her journey on the

following day, so that I do not know when the eschar separated.



In regard to the inflammation attendant on these wounds, I would

remark that slight inflammation is relieved by the application of the

lunar caustic and does not prevent the formation of an adherent

eschar; but very severe inflammation requires the application of the

cold poultice and lotion over the wound, and it is necessary to watch

for the period when an eschar may be attempted with the lunar caustic.

This a little experience will readily teach.



It is further to be particularly observed that the inflammation

attendant on a recent wound is removed by the caustic, when the same

degree of inflammation at a later period, and with suppuration, would

be aggravated and require the cold poultice and lotion, and render

the formation of an adherent eschar impossible. This fact, the result

of much experience, is extremely interesting, and, I think, not easy

to be explained. It is illustrated by the following case.



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