BOIL

(boyl). Syn. Furun′culus , L.; Furoncle , Fr.; Beule , Eiterstock , Ger. In surgery , a well-known inflammatory tumour, of a superficial and more or le temporary character, which generally terminates by suppuration. Boils ( furun′culi ) generally attack the healthy and robust during the period of youth and early manhood, and seldom trouble persons who have arrived at the middle age of life. Treatm., . When boils begin to appear, and exhibit persistency by daily enlargement and increasing pain, suppuration should be promoted by warm poultices of bread and linseed-meal, to which a little fat or oil may be added, to prevent their getting hard. If poultices are inconvenient, warm and stimulating embrocations, or exposure to the vapour of hot water, or the application of stimulating plasters, may be adopted instead. When the tumour is sufficiently ‘ripe,’ the matter should be evacuated by gentle pre ure, and the wound dre ed with a little simple ointment spread on a piece of clean lint or linen. The diet may be full and liberal until the maturation of the tumour and the discharge of the matter, when it should be le ened, and the bowels kept gently open by saline purgatives, as Epsom-salt or cream of tartar. When there is a disposition in the constitution to the formation of boils, the bowels should be kept at all times regular, and tonics, as bark or steel, had recourse to, with the frequent use of sea-bathing when po ible. An occasional dose of the Abernethy medicines (which see ) also often prevents their recurrence. A course of sarsaparilla may be likewise taken with advantage. See Absce , Tumours , . Dr Sydney Ringer prescribes a 1 ⁄ 16 th grain of sulphide of sodium, mixed with sugar of milk, three or four times a day on the tongue; but this should only be administered under medical supervision. Treatment for Horses and Cattle .—Fomentations; poultices containing belladonna, cold water, carbolic acid dre ing, counter-irritants, laxatives, sulphites, and chlorates.