APPENDIX. D. 3-49 



tic. Towards animals, particularly of the larger kinds, where 

 dispatch is requisite, and where deformity and a destruction of 

 parts are not of so much consequence, excision may be con- 

 sidered preferable. In the neighborhood of large bloodvessels, 

 nerves, &c., it is evident that the knife must be used with ex- 

 treme caution ; whereas the caustic may be applied freely with 

 much less fear, as the eschar which starts up protect the parts 

 underneath, and enables them to reinstate tliemselyes previously 

 to sloughing, if they should be slightly injured. The caustic 

 gives little pain, and, by removing the slough formed, it may be 

 carried to any depth, and to any extent, with the certainty of 

 destroying the virus as it proceeds. 



" The flow of blood, during excision, is very apt to obstruct a 

 proper and clear view of the extent of the injury ; and a conse- 

 quence follows, which I have frequently witnessed among sur- 

 geons in operations on the human sutjject, which is the removal 

 of a much larger quantity of substance than is absolutely neces- 

 sary. With the caustic, nothing of this kind happens : pro- 

 ceeding deliberately, every portion of wounded surface is taken in 

 succession, until the whole inoculated part is destroyed, but no 

 more. 



" Process of operation for the rahid hite. — When a dog, or any 

 other animal, has been attacked by one that is rabid, it is evi- 

 dent that a difficulty presents itself which does not exist in the 

 human subject under similar circumstances. The incapability 

 of the wounded animal to point out the wounds that may have 

 been received, and which the hair may prevent from being ob- 

 served, renders it necessary that a very minute examination of 

 every part of the body should take place, by turning the whole 

 hair deliberately back ; after which, to remove any rabid saliva 

 that may adhere to the hair in other parts, the animal should be 

 washed all over, first with simple warm water, and, nest, with 

 water in which a sufficient quantity of either potash or soda is 

 dissolved, to render it a moderate ley, in doing which the eyes 

 must be carefully guarded. Having finished this operation, 

 which will render the doff or other animal secure from acciden- 



