284 RABIES CANINA, 



burned the parts with heated iron, sometimes with brass, sil- 

 ver, or gold *. Some of the moderns have also favoured its 

 use ; and as it is a remedy immediately at hand, it is not an 

 ineligible one, particularly where the unnecessary dread of 

 after consequences, from immediate absorption, is fixed in the 

 mind, and also where other assistance is not at hand. When, 

 likewise, the wound is of a determinate form, and superficial 

 in extent, the actual cautery, or heated iron, is, from the quick- 

 ness of the operation, a very convenient method, particularly 

 with regard to horses, cows, and other large animals, who 

 are not easily restrained. In such cases, a budding iron, so 

 called among' farriers, is a convenient instrument, or even a 

 kitchen poker, or any other iron whose surface may be 

 adapted to the form of the wound, when heated red hot, 

 may be applied; observing due caution in the application, 

 that the part is sufficiently burned without injuring the sur- 

 rounding parts too deeply. 



Caustics, or the potential cautery, may be applied under 

 many forms. The caustic potass, or potash, formed into a 

 solid body, and then called lapis infernalis, is a very power- 

 ful escharotic, and, when an extensive surface not in the 

 neighbourhood of very important parts is to be destroyed, it 

 is an excellent preparation ; but it should be remembered, 

 that it liquefies speedily, and, therefore, when great nicety 

 is required, and a slow destruction is advisable, as about the 

 head, or in the vicinity of important vessels and nerves, it 

 is less eligible. The nitrate of silver, usually called lunar 

 caustic, liquefies less speedily, and is equally powerful, pro- 

 vided a longer time is allow'ed for its operation. In some 

 cases it is recommended to be powdered and sprinkled over 



* Portal informs us, that Galen, Diascorides, Celsus, ^Elius, Rufus, 

 and all the Greek physicians, considered the actual catitery to the bitten 

 part as the most powerful means of prevention against the rabid ma- 

 lady. And, according to Matthiolus, during his time, it was debated 

 whether gold or silver would not form a better cautery than iron. In 

 Van Helmont's time, brass was proposed. 



