ACTUAL CAUTERIZATION OR FIRING. 159 



(«) Diseases of Joints. — Exostoses around the borders of 

 articular surfaces ; sprains of ligaments ; dilatations of synovial 

 bursjB and indurations of their walls ; dislocations ; true or false 

 anchylosis ; deformities of the extremities from excess of work ; 

 congenital general weakness, etc. 



{!)) Diseases of Bones. — ^Exostoses; periostosis; callus of 

 complete or incomplete fractures ; caries ; necrosis. 



(c) Diseases of Tendons. — Partial lacerations ; chronic swelling 

 after tenotomy. 



{d) Diseases of Tendinous Sheaths. — Dilatation ; lacerations ; 

 changes in the structure of their walls. 



(e) Diseases of Muscles. — Atrophy; induration; pathological 

 changes of structure. 



(/') Diseases of the Cellular Tissues. — Chronic oedematous 

 swellings; indiiration; abscesses; cysts. 



(g) Diseases of the Nervous Apparatus. — Paralysis; occult 

 pains without visible lesions. 



(A) Diseases of the Lymphatic System — Chronic lymphangitis ; 

 f arcinous cords ; pustules or tumors. 



(^) Diseases of Veins. — Chronic phlebitis. 



{j) Diseases of Arteries. — Hemorrhages. 



{k) Special Diseases. — Carbuncular tumors; gangrene ; ulcers ; 

 fistulas, etc. 



To epitomise and simpUfy this long recapitulation, we may say 

 with Gourdon, that the use of the actual cautery is indicated when 

 its characteristic effect as an excitant and tonic is sought for in 

 atrophy, or in diseases of joints; or again, as a modifying factor 

 in chronic inflammation ; as a derivative, and as a physical or a 

 preventive agent. 



It is contra-indicated in cases where there exists an excess of 

 vital irritation, or of inflammatory tendency, until the symptoms 

 which attend such a state of the system have more or less sub- 

 sided. 



Actual cauterization is divided into the superficial and the 

 deep, the former being again subdi\dded into the mediate and the 

 immediate. In the immediate the iron is appHed directly to the 

 skin, while in the mediate the action is supposed to be modified 

 by the interposition of some kind of medium. 



The various modes of actual cauterization, according to Bonley, 

 are systematically exhibited in the following table : 



