CAUSTICS. 1049 



CAUSTICS 



Are substances which burn away the tissues of the body by de- 

 composition of their elements, and are valuable to destroy fungous 

 growth and set up healthy action. They are, consequently, often 

 required to destroy proud flesh, kill the virus in poisoned wounds, 

 stimulate old ulcers, excite healthy action in fistula, and remove 

 warts, tumors, etc. 



Corrosive sublimate, in powder, acts energetically; nitrate of 

 silver is excellent to lower granulation ; sulphate of copper is not 

 so strong as the above, but good; chloride of zinc is a powerful 

 caustic, and may be used in sinuses, in solution, 7 drachms in a 

 pint of water; verdigris, either in powder or mixed with lard, is 

 good as an ointment, in proportion of one to three parts. Carry- 

 ing this treatment to extreme implies using a hot iron, the actual 

 cautery. 



Vegetable Caustic. Make a strong lye of hickory or oak 

 ashes, put into an iron kettle, and evaporate to the consistency of 

 thin molasses; then remove into a sand bath, and continue the 

 evaporation to the consistency of honey. Keep it in a ground 

 stopped glass jar. 



This caustic is very valuable in fistulas, cancers, scrofulas, and 

 indolent ulcers, particularly where there are sinuses, necrosis (or de- 

 cay of bone), and in all cases where there is proud flesh ; and also 

 to excite a healthy action of the parts. It removes fungous flesh 

 without exciting inflammation, and acts but little except on spongy 

 or soft flesh. 



