646 THE HORSE 



CAUSTICS, OR CAUTERIES 



Caustics arc substances \vliich Ijiiin a\\;iy the living tissues oi the 

 body by the decomposition of their elements. Tlie}' are of two kinds — 

 viz. first, the actual cautery, consisting in the application of the burning 

 iron, and called firing ; and, secondly, the potential cautery, by means of 

 the powers of mineral caustics, such as zinc chloride, lunar- caustic, corrosive 

 sublimate, etc. 



FiRiNO is described in the chapter on Operations, at page G2S. 



The following are the ordinary chemical applications used as potential 

 cauteries : — 



4i. Fused Potass, difficult to manage, because it runs about in all directions, and littlo 

 used in veterinary medicine. 



45. LuxAR Caustic, or Nitrate of Silver, verj' valuable to the veterinary surgeon, and 



constantly used to apply to profuse granulations. 



46. Sulphate of CorrEr., almost equally useful, but not so strong as Lunar Caustic ; 



it may bo applied to all high granulations, as in broken kuees, and similar 

 gi-owths. 



47. CoRUOSivE Suni.iMATE in powder, which acts most energetically upon warty 



growths, but should be used with great care and discretion. It may safely bo 

 applied to small surfaces, but not without a regular practitioner to large ones. 



48. Yellow Orpimen'T is not so strong as Corrosive Sublimate, and may lie usod with 



more freedom. It will generally remove warty growths, by picking olf tlicir 

 heads and rubbing it in. 



49. Muriate of Antimoxy, called Butter of Antimony ; a strong but rather un- 



manageable caustic, and used either by itself or mixed with more or less water. 



50. Chloride of Zixc is a most powerful caustic. It may be used in old sinuses la 



solution, 7 drachms in a pint of water. 



MiLDEv. Caustics :— 



51. Verdigris, either iu powder or mixed with Lard as an ointment, in the proportion 



of 1 to 3. 



52. Red preoiiiitate, ditto, ditto. 



53. Burnt ahun, used dry. 



Mild Liquid Caustics : — 



54. Solution of Nitrate of Silver, 5 to 15 grains to the ounce of distilled water. 



55. Solution of Blue Vitriol, of about double the above strength. 



56. Chloride of Zinc, 1 to 3 grains to the ounce of water. 



CHARGES 



Are adiiivSive plastkrs which are spread while hot on the legs or other 

 parts, and at once covered with short tow, so as to form a strong and un- 

 yielding support while the horse is at grass. 



57. Ordinary Cuaroks : 



Burgundy pitch 4 ounces. 



liarbadocs Tar G ounces. 



Beeswax 2 ounces. 



Ked Lead 4 ounces. 



Tlie Ihrce first are to be meltrd together, and afterwards tiie lead is to be added. 

 The mixture is to be kept constantly stirred until sutTuiently cold to be applied. 

 If too stilffwhich will depend upon the weather), it may be softened by the addition 

 of a little Lard or Oil. 



