APx-EiNLiix. — :;. 347 



favorite application with surne practitioners, particularly with 

 the French : it is applied by means of a piece of linen or lint 

 fastened to a probe, or by aid of a camel's-hair pencil ; the sur- 

 face of the wound being then smeared over with it. As its 

 action begins immediately, and, after a few minutes, is confined 

 to the parts it is applied to only, so it is evident that it is a more 

 eligible application for extensive lacerations, and wounds of un- 

 certain depth and extent in animals than the powdered nitrate 

 of silver. Potass and lime are sometimes also used as escha- 

 rotics. The mineral acids, and mercurial preparations, as the 

 oxymuriate and red nitrate of quicksilver, are now and then 

 also employed in this way. 



" The use of caustics has been objected to, as not carrying the 

 destruction of parts far enough, the formation of the eschar pre- 

 venting the further progress of the caustic agent ; but this I am 

 convinced is not a cogent objection. If the nitrate of silver he 

 formed into a point, and a moderate friction be kept up by it 

 over the eschar, the decomposed portions are removed by the 

 rubbing, and the cauterization goes on to any depth or extent 

 required. In penetrating wounds, made by the canine teeth, 

 the probe having detected the course of the wound, the knife 

 may be properly employed to dilate it, and render it accessible 

 to the approach of the caustic ; in which case equal certainty is 

 gained by one as by the other, with less loss of substance. It 

 has also been objected to caustics, that they may dilute the virus, 

 and cany it farther within the wound ; but, if previous active 

 ablution of the wound has taken place, it may be supposed that 

 no virus but that involved within the fibre will remain. It is 

 truly said, that caustics cannot be so conveniently applied to the 

 bottom of a deep wound : but in these cases the knife can be 

 first employed in dissecting out the whole cavity, with all its 

 parts. A much more imaginary objection has been urged to 

 the use of caustics, particularly to those formed of the caustic 

 alkalies, which is, that in their action they unite themselves with 

 the morbid saliva, and, with the decomposed animal matter, 

 form together a saponaceous mass or eschar, which may retain 



