139 [rse.: 
perated nature. It is however of short duration, 
Jeaving a sympathising inflammatory action in the 
contiguous and adjacent parts, which is greater or. 
Jess in proportion to the liberal or sparing appli- 
eation of the caustic. and often some irritation of 
the whole system. Though the mineral acids are 
excellent escharotics, they are seldom used, on ac- 
count of their fluidity, which renders it difficult to 
restrain their eroding action within the bounds de- __ 
sired. The dry grains of red precipitate answer | 
the purpose very well, but the power of that sub- 
stance is lessened by its union with an unctuous 
body, as is common. ‘The lunar caustic is sufli- 
ciently manageable, and more frequently employ- 
ed than the common caustic, or fused potash, which 
is more destructive. The butter of antimony. 
which is the most intense caustic known, is liable 
to the same objection as the fluid escharotics, not 
being in a solid form. The burned alum is weak- 
est of all the escharotics. and may be suited to 
cases not requiring a great eroding power. The 
moxa is of ancient date, and its use has been re- 
vived of late years by many French surgeons— 
To Baron Larey chiefly, is to be attributed this 
restored surgical remedy. 
~The purposes to which escharotics are applied, 
are for the most part surgical. They are employed 
to remove excressencies, establish healthy action 
in ulcers, remove fungous granulations and thereby 
convert an ulcerated surface into a simple sore. 
Also for establishing issues in various parts of the 
body ; for exciting the fractured ends of bones 
which are indisposed to form callous. and thereby 
promote union; and finally, by timid practifionrrs 
(at least in most instances) to open buboes ant ab- 
sesses. * sin 
” Mt 
