CELSUS

2 until every sign of inflammation has subsided. However, it is not correct to say that the cupping glass original: "cucurbitulam" does nothing. Sometimes, though rarely, it happens that the abscess is enclosed in a covering of its own: the ancients called this a coat original: "tunicam". Meges, because every coat is sinewy, said that a sinew does not form beneath a lesion where the flesh has been consumed; but rather, when pus has been present for a long time, a callus forms around it. This is irrelevant to the method of treatment, because the same thing ought to be done, whether it is a coat or a callus. And there is nothing to prevent it from being called a coat 3 even if it is a callus, since it surrounds the area. Furthermore, once the pus has matured, this has sometimes become the standard state; and therefore, what is beneath it cannot be extracted by the cupping glass. But this is easily understood when the application of the glass causes no change. Therefore, whether that occurs or there is already a hardening, there is no help from this, but as I wrote elsewhere original: "b", the matter flowing there must either be diverted, dispersed, or led to maturity. If the former occur, nothing else is necessary. If the pus has matured, in the armpits or groins, one should rarely cut; likewise wherever there is a moderate abscess, or whenever the injury is in the surface of the skin or even the flesh, unless the weakness of the patient in bed forces haste; it is sufficient to use a poultice 4 to make the pus open by itself. For a place that has not experienced the iron can generally remain without a scar. But if the evil is deeper, one must consider whether that place is sinewy or not. For if it is without sinews, it must be opened with a red-hot iron tool; which has this merit...

References: a. II. 8. 10, 28. b. V. 28. 11 B, C.