Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/53

scu tices are, at present, in vogue only ^mong the vulgar. If, however, none of the me- dicines before enumerated, have the eflfeft of dispersing the swel- lings ; on the contrary, if a suppu- ration of the tumors be likely to ensue, they should never be open- ed, till the tumid indurations are softened ; or, it will be more safe and advisable to suffer them spon- taneously to break, without any ap- plication of emollient, or other poultices ; as the subsequent heal- ing of the ulcers will thus be great- ly promoted. The nitric acid has, lately, been extolled as an efficacious remedy against hard indolent swellings, and particularly those of a scrophu- lous nature : in the latter cases, it is given according to the age of the patient. In doses, of from 20 to Qo, and even 80 drops, in water sweet- ened with honey ; and which must be taken gradually in the course of 24 hours. Should it occasion nausea, and Injure the enamel of the teeth, these inconveniencies may be re- medied by diminishing the num- ber of drops, and adding more sugar or honey. In some instances, this acid has proved beneficial ; but it requires more time, positively to ascertain its eff'e»Sls. SCULL, is a conjunftion of bones, eight in number, surround- ed by a membrane railed the peri- cranium, and forming a cavity for the brain ; which is thus complete- ly inclosed and defended.^ — In an infantile state, the scull is of so delicate a texture, as to admit of being moulded into almost any form; a circumstance, on /hich the shape of the heads of different nations chiefly depends ; but, in an adult state, they acquire so cou- SIO, XUI.~ VOL. IV, scu [33 Crete a form, as to represent one so- lid bone, and are afterwards more easily broken than separated. — The edges or margins of the bones are distinguished by certain lines, called sutures. The principal injuries, to which the scull is exposed, proceed from external violence; for instance, blows and falls, by which the bones may be fra6i.ured. The danger attending such accidents, varies according to the more or less com- plicated fjature of the frafture, and the relative health of the patient : for, if his constitution be debili- tated, or the humours be vitiated, the most trivial contusion of the head may prove fatal. The symptoms, by which a frac- ture of the scull may be ascertain* ed, arc as fo'.lows : the points of the bones may sometimes be felt j the patient is afflifted with giddi- ness, drowsiness, stupefaftion, loss of sight; and, when the concussion has been violent, blood is discharg- ed from the eyes, nose, and ears i which last circumstance generally denotes a compression of the brain. If, however, several of these ap- pearances concur, and the diseased part cannot be distinguished, the head should be deliberately, but" firmly pressed in every direftion j thus, the padent will, in most in- stances, point out the seat of the injury, by his own sensations of pain or uneasiness, when the frac- tured part is touched. As these dangerous cases re- quire the application of the trepan, without delay, we shall only state a few particulars relative to the dietetic treatment, after the opera- tion is performed. The patient ought to be kept in the most qui- escent state; his bowels must be regulated by gentle aperients, such O a»