When an abscess has burst of itself, the surrounding skin is to be kept clean, and the emollient applications are to be continued until the discharge has considerably diminished, and the accompanying inflammation has subsided. Should such opening be too small in relation to the size of the abscess, it is to be enlarged; and should it not be depending, it may sometimes be rendered so. If this cannot be accomplished, and the lodgment of matter is considerable, a new or counter opening must be formed in an advantageous place for the exit of the pus.

Now, an abscess opened with a cutting instrument is both a wound and a sore, and partakes more of the nature of a fresh wound in proportion to the thickness of the parts cut. Hence it is sometimes necessary that something should be put into the wound in order to keep it open and prevent healing by the first intention. If it is lint or tow, it may be dipped in olive oil, or sweet oil, which will prevent it from adhering, and allow it to be removed sooner, without causing pain and irritation, than would otherwise be practicable. This is advantageous, because the ulcerated opening should be dressed the next day, or at the latest on the second day, in order that the pus may be discharged again. As soon, then, as the cut edges of the opening have suppurated, the dressing cannot be too simple, such as cold water, and afterwards such other applications as the state of the sore may require (see Wound Dressings). Openings spontaneously formed in abscesses have less disposition to close than those made with a cutting instrument, and seldom therefore require anything introduced into them for the purpose of maintaining them in this condition. The previously thinned state of the integuments, and their ulcerated condition, are considerable impediments to any prompt closure of the openings by adhesion. But the edges of an incision which extends through some thickness of textures, if allowed to be in contact with one another, are also disposed to unite.

If the abscess has been opened with caustic, and the slough has separated, the case is to be regarded altogether as a suppurating sore, and dressings suitable for such are according applied.

A linseed-meal poultice or water-dressing is as good an application as any, until the nature of the sore is known. If it should be a good kind, the same dressing may be continued; but if not, then it must be dressed accordingly. Parts which at first appear to be sound, sometimes assume every species of disease, whether from want of exercise or from irritability. In some instances this tendency to disease arises from the nature of the parts affected, as, for example, bone, ligament, etc.