Advice to the people in general, with regard to their health

by S. A. D. Tissot

§ 489. It is very common for the Hands, Feet or Legs, to be pierced by the forcible Intrusion of small pointed Substances, such as Thorns or Prickles, whether of Roses, Thistles or Chestnuts, or little Splinters of Wood, Bone, &c.

If such Substances are immediately and entirely extracted, the Accident is generally attended with no bad Consequences; though more certainly to obviate any such, Compresses of Linen dipt in warm Water may be applied to the Part, or it may be kept a little while in a warm Bath. But if any such pointed penetrating Body cannot be directly extracted, or if a Part of it be left within, it causes an Inflammation, which, in its Progress, soon produces the same Symptoms as a Whitlow: or if it happens in the Leg, it inflames and forms a considerable Abscess there.

§ 490. To prevent such Consequences, if the penetrating Substance is still near the Surface, and an expert Surgeon is at Hand, he must immediately make a small Incision, and thence extract it. But if the Inflammation were already formed, this would be useless, and even dangerous.

When the Incision, therefore, is improper; there should be applied to the affected Part, (after conveying the Steam of some hot Water into it) either some very emollient Pultices of the Crumb of Bread, Milk and Oil, or some very emollient unctuous Matter alone, the Fat of a [¹⁰³] Hare being generally employed in such Cases, and being indeed very effectual to relax and supple the Skin; and, by thus diminishing its Resistance, to afford the offensive penetrating Body an Opportunity of springing forth. Nothing however, but the grossest Prejudice, could make any one imagine, that this Fat attracted the Splinter, Thorn, or any other intruded Substance by any sympathetic Virtue; no other Sympathy in Nature being clearly demonstrated, except that very common one between wrong Heads, and absurd extravagant Opinions.

It is absolutely necessary that the injured Part should be kept in the easiest Posture, and as immoveable as possible.

If Suppuration has not been prevented by an immediate Extraction of the offending Substance, the Abscess should be opened as soon as ever Matter is formed. I have known very troublesome Events from its being too long delayed.

§ 491. Sometimes the Thorn, after having very painfully penetrated through the Teguments, the Skin, enters directly into the Fat; upon which the Pain ceases, and the Patient begins to conclude no sharp prickling Substance had ever been introduced into the Part; and of Course supposes none can remain there. Nevertheless some Days after, or, in other Instances, some Weeks, fresh Pains are excited, to which an Inflammation and Abscess succeed, which are to be treated as usual, with Emollients, and seasonably opened.

A Patient has been reduced to lose his Hand, in Consequence of a sharp Thorn's piercing into his Finger; from its having been neglected at first, and improperly treated afterwards.

Of Warts.

§ 492. Warts are sometimes the Effects of a particular Fault in the Blood, which feeds and extrudes a surprizing Quantity of them. This happens to some Children, from four to ten Years old, and especially to those who feed most plentifully on Milk or Milk-meats. They may be removed by a moderate Change of their Diet, and the Pills prescribed [Nº. 18].