Carbuncle

[lelliott19]

A carbuncle is an abscess made up of multiple boils connected under the skin, usually with one or more openings draining pus. It is most commonly caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Carbuncles usually occur on the back or neck, but can also occur on the buttocks, thighs, groin or armpits.

At the time of the Vicksburg campaign, General Ulysses S Grant was reportedly suffering with a carbuncle. Riding a restless horse caused pain and so he rode a smooth-gaited pony captured from the plantation of Joe Davis, brother of Jefferson Davis. The pony was named "Jeff Davis" and Grant kept the pony until it died, which was well after the war.

 

[JerseyBart]

Didn't a Carbuncle also have something to do with Hancock's death?

 

[lelliott19]

Didn't a Carbuncle also have something to do with Hancock's death?

Yes, Hancock died from a carbuncle which started as a boil on his neck. He was unable to battle the infection, probably due to complications from diabetes.

 

[JerseyBart]

Yes, Hancock died from a carbuncle which started as a boil on his neck. He was unable to battle the infection, probably due to complications from diabetes.

Thanks. They look nasty too.

 

[Drew]

Ewwe.....

But it happened, all of the time.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/carbuncles-causes-treatments

 

[Blessmag]

One could say, "Davis" was a pain in the donkey for Grant, personally and nationally.

Or not.

I had one in my groin as a 6th grader. Dad said he could have stuck his thumb in the hole when it popped. NASTY stuff.

 

[M.Warren]

Man.. I'm glad my dinner had time to settle before I clickied on this one.. I was thinking, Cool, another vet. picture that was identified! Thanks for the warning Lelliott! lol.

 

[JerseyBart]

One could say, "Davis" was a pain in the donkey for Grant, personally and nationally.

Or not.

I had one in my groin as a 6th grader. Dad said he could have stuck his thumb in the hole when it popped. NASTY stuff.

Yuck and ouch!!!

 

[JerseyBart]

Ewwe.....

But it happened, all of the time.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/carbuncles-causes-treatments

I will not click that link...I will not click that link...I will not click that link...dang it!!!

 

[JerseyBart]

I had two weeks' worth of some pretty nasty and big boils in my...lower back region this winter. I'd take care of one and the next would show up. Tough to stand, tough to sit, tough to...do other lower back region related tasks. I can only imagine carbuncle pain then.

 

[ole]

Never had one. Heard about them now and then. Worse than a boil as I understand it. Just pierce it and pop it like a pimple.

It does help to be genetically predisposed to not infect.

You see, Norwegians don't get infections, generally. Never mind that our teeth rot, we don't get infections.

 

[pamc153PA]

Yuck! I never had a carnbuncle or a boil. And I hope to keep it that way. I don't even know--are some people more predisposed to getting either of them? I kind of thought they were more common when people ate more poorly and bathed less than they do now. But considering Jerseybart doesn't seem like he fits either of those categories , I guess not. And I didn't know you could die from them. Geez!

 

[ole]

Yuck! I never had a carnbuncle or a boil. And I hope to keep it that way. I don't even know--are some people more predisposed to getting either of them? I kind of thought they were more common when people ate more poorly and bathed less than they do now. But considering Jerseybart doesn't seem like he fits either of those categories , I guess not. And I didn't know you could die from them. Geez!

I don't know from nuthin' either, Pam. Just makin' it up as I go along.

 

[hrobalabama]

A carbuncle is an abscess made up of multiple boils connected under the skin, usually with one or more openings draining pus. It is most commonly caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Carbuncles usually occur on the back or neck, but can also occur on the buttocks, thighs, groin or armpits.

At the time of the Vicksburg campaign, General Ulysses S Grant was reportedly suffering with a carbuncle. Riding a restless horse caused pain and so he rode a smooth-gaited pony captured from the plantation of Joe Davis, brother of Jefferson Davis. The pony was named "Jeff Davis" and Grant kept the pony until it died, which was well after the war.

Even today a carbuncle is a serious condition. It can easy cause septicemia (blood poisoning) and can be fatal.

 

[Allie]

I really should not have looked at Google images for this! I had no idea they got so bad even with modern treatment.

 

[M.Warren]

I really should not have looked at Google images for this! I had no idea they got so bad even with modern treatment.

Agreed. I fell into that trap also. Whatever you do, don't click on the video tab! I've seen some gross stuff in my life but something about these things rubs me the wrong way.. Blood and guts, Okay.. Bucket loads of bloody pus.. No thank you!

 

[Cumpston1862]

To reply or not reply...

Boils are nasty business. Although I am unsure if some are genetically more affected than others I can explain my own experience. When I played football and wrestled I seemed to catch everything that "came down the pike". Despite the fact that I showered and washed all my clothes after every practice. Other guys took pride in not washing their clothes and gear as often but not getting a single boil. Hey this was high school some of our brains were not fully functional.

Anyway my senior year was especially frustrating as I came down with several nasty boils. They seem to develop near joints more so than just randomly on the body but other people's mileage may vary. They are very painful and can swell up with blood and pus at an alarming rate until medication or it is "lanced"/pierced. When you have one lanced it is at first a kind of a relief but than very painful. I have had them done both at home and at a hospital. On both occasions an open boil will drain for several days until the "core" or infection comes out. The core is the solid main culprit of the infection and usually a semi solid mass (sorry everyone reading this). I had a boil on my forearm that got so swollen and full I looked like popeye the sailor man. When it finally opened and drained it was like I had been shot as I had this painful open sore. Finally the thing seemed to run its course and my arm was back to its usual size but the opening would not completely heal. Somehow I bumped my forearm against something and a solid white mass extruded about an inch and a half from my arm. When I released the pressure it slid right back into my arm. I about tossed my cookies. A football buddy said its the core. "You got to get it out or it won't heal". So I squeezed my arm and he pulled/wiped it with some paper towels. Good friend I know.

After I doused it in rubbing alcohol I had a clean perfectly round 1/3" hole in my arm. It was like I had been shot with a .22 or something. It was creepy but I put a band-aid on it and after a week or so I had round scar.

Some people do seem to be more prone to them than others. And some seem to get them in certain areas. My mother who didn't play any sports had a bad run of them too while in high school so perhaps I was doomed to get them. While my brother got them too he didn't have them nearly bad as me. I usually got them in my arms but others seem more prone to get them in their legs. Getting them in the groin area is not uncommon and trying to ride a horse while in the process sounds like cruel and unusual punishment.

 

[lelliott19]

Agreed. I fell into that trap also. Whatever you do, don't click on the video tab! I've seen some gross stuff in my life but something about these things rubs me the wrong way.. Blood and guts, Okay.. Bucket loads of bloody pus.. No thank you!

Whatever you do.........DONT CLICK ON THE VIDEO link!!!!!!!

 

[FarawayFriend]

Agreed. I fell into that trap also. Whatever you do, don't click on the video tab! I've seen some gross stuff in my life but something about these things rubs me the wrong way.. Blood and guts, Okay.. Bucket loads of bloody pus.. No thank you!

Was there a link to a video? To me these things bear a certain fascination and I would have clicked it, you can always learn something new, but there is no video link anymore.
I clicked on the other link in the other post and there is no danger there, you can read the text without throwing up!

 

[M.Warren]

Was there a link to a video? To me these things bear a certain fascination and I would have clicked it, you can always learn something new, but there is no video link anymore.
I clicked on the other link in the other post and there is no danger there, you can read the text without throwing up!

I Googled it to see what it was after reading Lelliot's post, and at that point clicked the google video option like Allie did for pictures. The first video I saw was a cow with one the size of a small human on its leg and it was being lanced into a 5 gallon bucket. I'm not ashamed. I almost hurled, lol. Humility before honor you know hah..