CHAPTEE V. 



OPERATIONS ON THE SKIN AND 

 CELLULAR TISSUE. 



CAUTERIZATION. 



The theory of the cautery is the irritation and disorganization 

 of living tissues, either by the immediate contact of heat or of 

 chemical substances, producing an analagous effect on the organ- 

 ism. Cauterization is thus of two kinds, the actual and the poten- 

 tial, according to the agent employed in its production. 



Potential cauterization, by reason of the nature of the agents 

 employed, as well as of the method of employing them, belongs 

 properly to the domain of therapeutics, and we shall therefore pass 

 the subject by with a simple mention, to give om- attention to 

 what falls more particularly under the head of operative sm-gery, 

 the actual cautery. 



ACTUAL CAUTERIZATION OR FIRING. 



Firing is one of the most valuable of therapeutic agencies. It 

 is also one of the oldest and best known among methods of surgi- 

 cal treatment, in both human and veterinary medicine. It was 

 practiced and recommended as far back as the times of Columelle, 

 Absyrtus and Yegetius, when it was in high repute as a remedy 

 for articular diseases, sprains and weakness of the loins ; but to- 

 wards the 15th century, its popularity waned somewhat, and it 

 seemed to have partially lost favor, vintU the days of Markam and 

 Gray in England, and Solleysel in France, where it regained by 

 degrees its former repute. It now holds an estabhshed j^lace 

 among regular and methodical operations, and is one of the most 

 important among our surgical resources, apphcable in many 

 pathological conditions, and efficacious in most. The following 

 long Hst of ailments and lesions in which it may be indicated is 

 given by Bouley. 



