174 opekations on the skin and cellulak tissue. 



Objective Firing. 



In this mode of cauterization, the heat is transmitted, not by 

 contact, but by radiation. It is a process rarely resorted to, and 

 when it is used it is more as an adjunct to transcurrent firing, or 

 as a simple mode of revulsion. It consists simply in bringing the 

 heated iron in close proximity with the sarface to be cauterized. 



Gaulet is reported to have obtained good results from it in 

 the treatment of ulcers, grease and oj)hthalmia; Leblanc hi chronic 

 diseases of the eye, and Laux in the treatment of chronic lameness 

 of the thigh- According to Gourdon, it is indicated for the arrest 

 of some internal hemorrhage of mucous membranes ; for the re- 

 duction of prolapsus of the rectum and of the uterus ; in hernias ; 

 to stimulate the cicatrization of ulcers, and against some chronic 

 inflammation of mucous membranes, of the conjunctiva, the pituit- 

 ary membrane, etc. 



The cautery used by Mercier is square, oval or circular, with 

 the surface, which is to face the skin, unpohshed, while the other 

 is smooth and polished, a disposition designed to graduate the 

 firing by facilitating the radiation of the heat with the first, and 

 diminishing it with the second. 



The special aim in this plan is to avoid the formation of a slough, 

 and to attain it as perfectly as possible, the firing ought to be so 

 managed, as to approximate the point of disorganization as nearly 

 as possible without reaching it. 



In operating, the surgeon, after satisfying himself of the con- 

 dition of the skin and its subjacent connections, moves the instru- 

 ment to and fro over the part, carefully avoiding contact with the 

 tegument. If the hau- burns too quickly, it indicates an excess of 

 heat, or that the instrument is too near the surface. The heat 

 should be gradually increased from a brown to a cherry red color. 

 The duration of the operation dej)ends on the condition of the 

 skin. When the epidermis can be easily scrajjed with the finger- 

 nail, or is raised by the formation of small bhsters, and the fired 

 surface becomes moist, and shows little drops of serosity, and the 

 skin becomes thicker, denser, and more adherent to the subjacent 

 tissues, the evidence is present that the proper degree of firing has 

 been reached. 



The serosity increases immediately after the operation, and 

 for some time continues to flow, until the surface is covered with 



