OR MADNESS. 285 



a surface, or to be inserted within a deeper wound, mixed 

 with an equal part of other matter to lessen its potency, and 

 an adhesive plaster then applied over to confine its effects. 

 This method, in animals, can only be advisable when a very 

 extensive laceration with numerous jagged edges and smuo- 

 sities exists, particularly in the neighbourhood of such im- 

 portant parts that the knife cannot be wholly depended on : 

 in all others, this plan would occasion so much pain and re- 

 sistance on the part of the animal, as to defeat its intention, 

 by being rubbed or torn off. I have, through a very long 

 practice, adhered to the use of this form of caustic, as the 

 most manageable and effective of all the escharotics. It may 

 be cut or scraped to any shape, and long habit has enabled 

 me to make the eschar thick or thin, deep or superficial, at 

 pleasure. In a word, it is slow but certain. Muriate of an- 

 timony, called butter of antimony, is a very favourite escha- 

 rotic application with some practitioners, particularly with 

 the French * : it is applied by means of a piece of linen or 

 lint fastened to a probe, skewer, or other matter of that 

 form ; the surface of the wound being then smeared over 

 with it. As its action begins immediately, and, after a few 

 minutes, is confined to the parts it is applied to only, so it is 

 evident that it is a more eligible application for extensive 

 lacerations, and wounds of uncertain depth and extent m 

 animals, than the powdered nitrate of silver. Potass and 

 lime are sometimes also used as escharotics. The mineral 

 acids, likewise mercurial preparations, as the oxymuriate and 

 red nitrate of quicksilver, are now and then also employed in 



this way. 



The use of caustics has been objected to as not carrying 

 the destruction of parts far enough, the formation of the 

 eschar preventing the further progress of the caustic agent. 



* « Le beurre d'an*moinc (hydrochlorate d'antimoine) est pr6ferre a 

 " tous les caustiques que nous avons cites, par Leroux, qui I'a propos6 

 " par Sabatieu, par Portal, et par Enaux et Chaussier, parceque son 

 " action est prompt."— Trolliet, p. 341. 



