Treatment for boils

[Tillyella]

Some years ago my Mother had a very large boil on her leg, when this burst it had a long black thread which I was told was the core of the boil. We treated this boil with cream that was available over the counter at the chemist but I can't think of the name of it. Can anyone help. I think this is quite an old remedy.

[evedawn]

sudocream (or pssobly spelt sudocrem) supposed to work,

also soemthing an o ld remedy my mum used. thick back gunk and i think it was called "coal tar"

[garner]

There is a paste you can get from the chemist, it is sold in a little jar but for the life of me I cannot remember it's name sorry.But I am sure if you ask your local chemist they will have it in stock.g.

[Naomicorlett]

could be mag sulph magnesium sulphate paste we used to use it to dry up boils. Thick white paste in a little jar.

[Naomicorlett]

And it's still available. I googled it but looks as if you can get it from chemists.

[Schutzengel]

If your mum's infection on her leg had a thread-like core, it wouldn't have been a boil, it was more likely to be an abscess, as they have a core, unlike a boil. Once the core is out it's just a matter of keeping the wound clean by swabbing daily with warm salt water, and applying a healing cream such as those mentioned in previous answers.

[baileybird]

i bet it is maagnesium sulphate paste. i used to get load when i was a kid and they were treated with fucidin cream and magnesium sulphate. Ouch - nasty.

[puddicat]

Go with naomi,magnesium sulphate paste and soft lint dressing that draws the crap out and dries it!!!

[Velvetee]

Would it not have been a hair that was ingrown and coiled up inside the boil?

Many years ago, I had a strange bump under my arm, which seemed to have a hole in it. I managed to hook the hair inside it, which was folded like a concertina and was about six inches long.

As for treatment, I have no idea.

[trt]

I think it was called a poultice that you heated on a swab and put on the boil to draw the gunge out.

It used to be very painful.

[DesperateEth]

Black Jack is a fabby drawing ointment for boils, splinters and so on. You can buy it in any chemist.

It is a very thick, black gunk that you apply to suitable gauze, cover the boil and secure with a plaster. Change daily.