The process or condition of forming an abscess; the development and discharge of pus from infected tissue.
From apostemate (to form an abscess) + the noun suffix -ion. Describes the medical phenomenon of suppuration and abscess formation in classical and medieval medical theory.
Medieval physicians tracked 'apostemation' very carefully in surgical notes because they needed to know whether an infection was 'ripening' properly—delay meant it might spread internally, but rushing it could inject infection deeper into the body.
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