hort time all discharge ceased, and the cure was perfect. Both of
these cases are comparatively simple, but they show clearly the great
value of this use of acetic acid.

Carbolic acid is much more commonly used for such a purpose. It has the
drawback of being liable itself to melt away the healthy tissue, and to
make a wound larger. Acetic acid never does this, and so heals more
quickly and certainly.

We might take a much more difficult case. It was that of an abscess and
bad sore in the lower bowels. It was supposed to be necessary to
perform a very dangerous operation in order to try to cure this--not
much hope was held out of its being possible really to cure. It was,
however, quite possible to reach the sore by the injection of acetic
acid. The sufferer was directed to have this done regularly. In a very
short time there was a complete cure. In such a case all that is wanted
is an ordinary india-rubber enema. A much larger quantity of water is
required, but about the same strength of acid. First of all, as much
acidulated water as can be taken up with comfort is injected: after a
minute or so this is passed off. Then another is used in the same way,
and passed off also. A third syringing may be employed, when about
half-a-teacupful is taken and retained. If the acid gives no
comfortable feeling of warmth it needs to be strengthened till it does
so, but not so that it produces any pain. The operation really well
done is not in the least painful, but, on the contrary, rather
comfortable.

There is still one syringing which we may notice--that of suppurating
ears. If an ear is discharging from some internal sore, nothing is more
important than syringing with acetic acid, but it must be done with
very peculiar care. The water used should be as nearly as possible of
exact blood heat, and the acetic acid of the exact strength at which it
will give a fine comfortable feeling in the ear. It must neither feel
as if it were a mere wetting of the ear, nor that it gives the least
pain. The syringe, too, must be used gently, so as not to force the
water strongly against the internal parts that are so tender. It is a
soaking operation rather than a forcible urging of the water into the
ear which is wanted. If this is nicely done, say twice a day, the acid
will reach the sore, and we may confidently look for a cure. Even when
the bones are wasting, as we have seen in the case of the upper jaw, if
this acid can be really broug