286 RABIES CANINA5 



but this 1 am convinced is not a cog-ent objection. If the 

 nitrate of silver is formed into a point, and a moderate fric- 

 tion is kept up by it over the eschar, the decomposed por- 

 tions are removed by the rubbing-, and the cauterization goes 

 on to any depth or extent required. In penetrating- wounds, 

 made by the canine teeth, the probe having- detected the 

 course of the wound, the knife may be properly employed to 

 dilate it, and render it accessible to the approach of the 

 caustic ; in which case equal certainty is g-ained by one as by 

 the other, with less loss of substance. It has also been ob- 

 jected to caustics, that they may dilute the virus, and carry 

 it farther within the wound ; but, if previous friction and ab- 

 lution of the wound take place, it may be supposed no virus 

 will remain beyond what the absorbents have already taken 

 up. It is likewise said, that they cannot be conveniently ap- 

 plied to the bottom of a deep wound, in which case the knife 

 can be best employed in dissecting out the whole cavity, with 

 all its surrounding- parts. A still more imaginary objection 

 has been urged to the use of caustics, particularly to those 

 formed of the caustic alkalies, which is, that in their ac- 

 tion they unite themselves with the morbid saliva, and 

 with the decomposed animal matter, forming, together, a sa- 

 ponaceous mass or eschar, which may retain the virus, and 

 keep it ready to be acted upon by a new absorption. That 

 such a fear is entirely groundless, will appear, when it is 

 considered that the agent employed, be it what it may, which 

 is equal to the destruction of the animal solids, must also of 

 necessity be more than sufficient to decompose the animal 

 fluids also, and totally deprive them of any morbid activity ; 

 and this we find to be actuallv the case with rabid virus mixed 

 with even diluted caustic matter, as has been exemplified in 

 the experiments of HuzARD, Dr. Zinke, and others, where 

 such matter entirely failed to excite rabies. 



Excision of the part, after the rabid bite, is practised by 

 many of our most eminent surgeons of the present day, in 

 preference to cauterization ; but as each of these modes of 

 operating contain some advantages over the other, so each 



