Wens

Wens, or SEBACEOUS CYSTS, are much more common on the scalp than in any other situation, though occasionally observed on the face, shoulders, &c., and consist of obstructed sebaceous glands, which enlarge by the internal pressure of their accumulated secretions. They are never of very large size; but several or many often occur in the same patient. The closed orifice may often be noticed in the form of a small dark depressed point, and in that case the duct may sometimes be gradually enlarged by the gentle introduction of a probe or director, and its contents pressed out. By this treatment wens may at all events be kept from being unsightly, and will sometimes shrivel up and disappear. If it fail, and the patient finds the tumour so annoying that he insists upon its removal, it must be exterminated with caustic or the knife. For the smaller cysts caustics may be employed. The most prominent part of the wen must be thoroughly cauterised with nitric acid or caustic potash, which will lead to the formation and separation of a slough; the tumour is thus laid open, and may either be left to empty itself and wither or may be emptied by pressure, and cauterised within. The larger cysts are readily removed by the knife; and under antiseptic precautions the operation is not dangerous.