the direction of the length of the joint, and put on a poultice, which will afford almost immediate relief from agony. This, when very severe, will occasionally run into

The third kind of whitlow, which is worst of all, and may also occur independent of the former. In this case, the sheath which contains the tendons of the finger inflames, the finger swells, and unless quickly attended to, the inflammation spreads into the hand, and the tendons and one or more of the bones of the finger are destroyed; or at best the finger becomes shrivelled and stiff.

Treatment.

Leeches here should be frequently applied; warm bathing of the whole hand, which should be wrapped up in a bread-and-water poultice. If the doctor can be had, let him make a free cut down to the bone, at latest, after twenty or thirty hours have elapsed from the beginning of the attack. It will give greater relief from the severe pain, and be more likely to check the mischief at once, than if the cut be delayed, which must be made at last.

BOILS,

As most people are aware, are great plagues, not only from the severe pain which accompanies them, but also from their frequent recurrence for weeks or even months after having once made their appearance. They are generally in themselves of no great consequence, except when from their great size the setfast, core, or slough which is

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spiration collects in quantity, where any one part of the body laps immediately against another, as for instance in the armpits. This greasy matter sometimes, instead of

oozing from the little pits in which it is formed, becomes thickened, cannot of itself escape from its little tube, and has its top blackened by the dirt. But it may be squeezed out by a little gentle pressure in shape of a small delicate thread, and from its resemblance to a little white worm is commonly called a worm or maggot.

Treatment.

Bathing the face with warm water and rubbing briskly with a hand towel is usually sufficient to dislodge these ugly ornaments to the face; or if this be not sufficient, a little gentle pressure with a finger on each side of the blackhead, will often squeeze them out. But violent squeezing must not be used, as it is very likely to lead to the formation of little painful boils, which will run on for three or four days before the core can be pressed out. Not unfrequently indeed, when left alone, these little collections of grease irritate, their tubes inflame, matter is formed around them, and very ugly pimples appear on the face. When this happens it is better not to meddle with them further than to bathe with warm water, till matter is seen to have formed, when a little conical pustule, with a white head dotted with black, shows it in a fitting state to prick with the point of a lancet or a sharp needle; then pressure applied as mentioned already, easily empties the whole, and the pimple soon heals.

INGROWING NAIL.

ONE of the deserved punishments which people suffer for the folly of squeezing their feet into narrow shoes and boots, is an ingrowing nail. The toe usually attacked is the great one, and by the continued pressure on its sides, the nail, instead of its ordinary form, becomes narrow, and much arched across. In this state the pressure of the shoe forces the corner of the nail down into the skin. At first there is only a little uneasiness, which ceases when the foot escapes into a slipper. By-and-bye the pressed part feels a little sore, a slight moisture is found on the stocking, and on examining the toe, the pressed edge is found inflamed and tender. Perhaps the person discovers that the nail digs in, and he endeavours to cut away the pressing part; but this usually only makes matters worse, by leaving a sharp corner, which is driven in more deeply as the nail becomes more arched by perseverance in wearing the tight shoe. The sore now attempts to relieve itself of pressure by producing a little mass of proud flesh, which, however, only adds to the mischief, and at last the person becomes so lame that he is almost unable to

move.

Treatment.

First get rid of the narrow shoe, so that the toe may be unconfined, and the nail allowed to recover its proper breadth, which, however, it does not do very quickly. Then proceed to relieve the sore skin by the side of the nail of its pressure. It is of no use, however, merely to

cut away the pressing nail even freely, and then to thrust a piece of lint under its edge, which is as painful as it is useless; for the nail, if not otherwise managed, will drop, in the course of a few days, upon the old spot, and again render it angry. The proper treatment is, thinning the whole length of the middle of the nail, from its root to its end as much as possible; and this is best done by scraping it perseveringly with the sharp edge of a piece of glass again and again, till the middle of the nail be as thin as writing-paper, and will readily bend under the pressure of the finger-nail. This is at first a rather painful job; but the scraping must be done with a light hand. As soon as the middle of the nail has been thus thinned, it yields to the upward pressure of the skin on its side edges, readily bends, and offers no further resistance. The sore place being then no longer irritated by pressure, the proud flesh soon drops down, and the sore heals. Some persons recommend inserting a bit of lint between the nail and the proud flesh, but I do not, for it is painful and troublesome to push in, and is unnecessary.

If narrow shoes or boots be again used, the foolish wearer may expect a repetition of his plague.

BUNIONS.

YOUNG ladies and gentlemen, for the sake of making their feet small and pretty, as they fancy, are frequently in the habit of wearing boots and shoes which are too small, and, as a just punishment for their folly, cripple themselves and spoil the shape of their feet, by the pressure acting especially either on the ball of the great toe or