160 



OPERATIONS ON THE SKIN AND CELLULAR TISSUE. 



Superficial. 



Immediate . 



Mediate. 



Penetrating 



Subcutaneous. 



Transcurrent, in lines. 

 On surface, a la Gaulet. 

 In points or dots. 

 By ignited bodies. 

 By heated liquids. 

 ^ By radiation or objective. 



By the interposition of 

 kid skin or of a layer 

 of lard. 



r Rapid. 



[ Inherent or disorganizing. 



Peuch and Toussaint have added the needle cauterization, and 

 firing v^dth the thermo-cautery. 



Overlooking several of these specifications, which are of Uttle or 

 no utility, such as the firing with the inter-position of ignited bodies, 

 of heated liquids, kid skin, etc., we proceed to consider the 

 various prevalent and established modes in daily practice and of 

 general utility. 



Transcurrent, or Firing in Lines. 



The Cautery. — The instrument used in all these operations, 

 while formerly made of different metals, is now made exclusively of 

 iron, for which there are various reasons. It is not only because 

 of its cheapness and excellence and the general quahties which 

 give it universal precedence in the arts, but for some reasons pe- 

 cuhar to the case. Thus, its changes of color when heated, render 

 it easy to gauge, proximately, the degree of heat, and it also 

 possesses the property of retaining heat longer than many other 

 substances. 



The form of the cautery varies greatly. The style most com- 

 monly in use resembles a small hatchet, of triangular, prismatic 

 shape, thick at its base and with a thin border or edge, sometimes 

 convex, sometimes straight, and more or less sharj), according to 

 the indication. The handle is, of course, of wood or other non- 

 conducting material, and in respect to the weight, reference must 

 be had to facility of handling and power of retaining heat. The 



