1 60 Materia- Medica. 



the potential cautery •, viz., mineral and chemical agents, 

 as caustic soda, caustic potash, and lunar caustic, or nitrate 

 of silver. The heated iron is often the most useful, con- 

 trollable, and effective form of cautery, being employed 

 for stimulating indolent wounds, repressing too luxuriant 

 granulations, abscising tumours, or parts destroyed by 

 sloughing, and arresting bleeding from an artery, &c. 

 The usual form is the firing iron, and the budding iron, 

 as shown in the annexed figures. 



1. Caustic Potash is conveniently sold in the form of 

 pencils, having been fused and run into suitable moulds. 

 A holder is required for using it. In action it is prompt 

 and powerful ; but as it so quickly absorbs moisture from 

 the atmosphere and becomes fluid, it proves unmanage- 

 able and expensive. 



2. Lunar Caustic, or nitrate of silver, is by far the most 

 controllable, being less soluble than the former, and is 

 also very effective. It is also sold in pencils, and requires 

 a silver or platinum tube for use and preservation. 



3. Sulphate of copper, burnt alum, verdigris, red pre- 

 cipitate, and corrosive sublimate in powder, are variously 

 used as dry caustics. The latter is violent in action, and 

 unsafe in the hands of amateurs. It should never be used 

 except under the advice of a veterinary surgeon. 



4. Muriate, or butyr of antimony, is a powerful fluid 

 caustic, useful for fungoid growths. // is destroyed by ad- 

 mixture with water. 



5. Sulphuric, nitric, muriatic, and acetic acids are also 

 powerful caustics, and with No. 4 are usually applied by 

 means of a small bundle of tow secured on the end of a 

 stick or probe. 



Caustic lotions are made of various degrees of strength, 

 as follows : 



6. Nitrate of silver, 5, 10, to 15 grs. to 1 oz. of cold 

 distilled water. 



7. Corrosive sublimate, 5 to 10 grs. ; muriatic acid, ^ 

 a fluid drm. ; cold distilled water, 7! fluid drms. An 

 effective solution for injecting fistulous sinuses. 



8. Sulphate of copper, 10 drms. ; sulphuric acid, 1 fluid 

 drm. j water, 1 pint. 



