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XLVI] absorbent antiseptic dressing. A threatening boil may - often be aborted by touching the little initial itching or vesiculated papule with some penetrating antiseptic, as iodine tincture, or by painting it with collodion. A very successful method is to drill slowly into the centre of the papule with a pointed pencil of hard wood dipped in pure carbolic acid. The point of the pencil should penetrate at least an eighth of an inch, and should be frequently recharged with the acid during the drilling process; the pain is trifling. In this way, in a severe attack of furunculosis, boil after boil may be aborted and the attack brought to an end. In obstinate chronic furunculosis excellent results have occasionally attended treatment conducted on Wright's method of exalting the opsonic index of the blood by injections of killed cultures of the patient's pyogenic micro-organisms.

In severe cases change of air may be necessary.

Definition.— A non-febrile, highly contagious skin disease peculiar to warm countries. It is characterized by the formation of large vesicles or bullæ which are unattended by marked inflammation, ulceration, or the formation of crusts or scars.

Geographical distribution.— Pemphigus contagiosus is very common in South China during the hot weather; in some years it may even be described as epidemic. It is perennial in the Straits Settlements, and it is known in Ceylon, Madras, in North Queensland, Japan, and America. Doubtless, although it has escaped notice by most medical writers, it is common enough elsewhere in the tropics, or wherever heat and moisture combine to bring about a state of skin favouring its development on the infective material being applied. It is especially common in schools and similar institutions where large numbers of children are thrown much together; they readily pass the disease one to the other. European children are more prone to it than