252 RABIES CANINA, 



forms. The caustic potass^ or potash, formed into a solid body, 

 and then called lapis infernalis, is a very powerful escharotic ; 

 and, when an extensive surface not in the neighbourhood of very 

 important parts is to be destroyed, it may be employed ; but, it 

 should be remembered that it liquefies speedily, and therefore, 

 when great nicety is required, and a slow destruction of parts is ad- 

 visable, as about the head, or in the vicinity of important vessels 

 and nerves, it is less eligible. It is also supposed that it becomes 

 decomposed by the blood, and loses much of its activity. If 

 caustics be used, Mr. H. Earle recommended strong nitric acid, 

 which by its fluidity might extend itself in every direction, and 

 would therefore be very proper where there was extensive lacera- 

 tion. The nitrate of silver, usually called lunar caustic, lique- 

 fies less speedily, and is equally powerful, provided a longer time 

 be allowed for its operation. In some cases it is recommended to 

 be powdered and sprinkled over 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 plaister then applied over to 

 confine its eff'ects. This method, as regards animals, can only be 

 advisable when a very extensive laceration with numerous jagged 

 edges and sinuosities exists, particularly in the neighbourhood of 

 such important parts that the knife cannot be wholly depended on : 

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

 on the part of the animal, as to defeat its intention, by being rub- 

 bed or torn off. I have, through a very long practice, adhered to 

 the use of this form of caustic, as the most manageable and effec- 

 tive 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 antimony, called butter of antimony, is a very fa- 

 vourite application with some practitioners, particularly with the 

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



* ** Le beurre d'antimoine (hydrochlorate d'antimoine) est pr^ferr^ k tous 

 les caustiques que nous avons cit^s, par Leroux, qui I'a propose par Sabatier, 

 par Portal, et par Enaux et Chaussier, parceque son action est prompt." — 

 Trolliet, p. 143. 



