This section of the book is from "The Complete Herbalist" by Dr. O. Phelps Brown. Also available from Amazon: The Complete Herbalist: The People Their Own Physicians By The Use Of Nature's Remedies.
Boils occur most frequently in the young, and in those of plethoric habit, in those parts where the skin is thickest. They are usually gregarious, and depend upon derangement of the stomach and intestines, and frequently succeed eruptive diseases. The swelling is of a conical shape, having a hard, red, and painful base, and a yellow apex. If left to itself it bursts and discharges pus, and a core or slough of cellular tissue; when completely emptied, the heat and pain subside.
TREATMENT. -- Poultices and warm fomentations should be applied early, and as soon as pus has formed, the boil should be opened, after which the granulated wound should be dressed with basilicon ointment. If my "Herbal Ointment" is procurable, it may be applied form the first, as it speedily draws the boil to a head, and quickly heals it after discharge.
 
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