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.