154 GENERAL THERAPEUTICS FOR VETERINARIANS 



Uses. — The caustics are used to remove neoplasms when they 

 cannot be removed by operation. In general, their use has 

 diminished very much with the progress of surgical technic, but in 

 veterinary medicine there are still several forms of neoplasms for 

 which caustics are preferred to operation on practical or economical 

 grounds. In canker of the frog especially cauterization with for- 

 maldehyde is frequently employed instead of operating because of 

 its greater simplicity and convenience. In addition, caustics are 

 sometimes used in the treatment of fistulse and ulcers, and also to 

 regulate the healing of wounds, especially to remove exuberant 

 granulations (silver nitrate). The expediency of the earlier 

 method of treating hernise with caustics may be left in abeyance. 

 On the other hand, caustics are indicated in infected and poisoned 

 wounds, particularly potassium permanganate, iron chloride and 

 chromic acid in snake bites. 



Form. — The caustics are used in different forms, partly alone 

 and partly in combination with other substances (caustic pastes, 

 pencils, points, bougies, sounds, cords, ligatures, crystals and 

 powders). 



Drugs. — 1. Liquor formaldehydi. Formaldehyde. The strong- 

 est caustic; very penetrating caustic action (be cautious); best 

 caustic in canker of the frog. 



2. *Fuming nitric acid. A frequently employed and valuable 

 liquid caustic in veterinary medicine; used in the treatment of 

 canker of the frog and to remove warts and small neoplasms. 



3. Acidum sulphuricmn. A very strong caustic; used in the 

 treatment of shoe boils, canker of the frog and other neoplasms; 

 use cautiously. 



4. Acidum trichloraceticum. Trichloracetic acid. A good 

 but rather expensive caustic for canker of the frog, warts and 

 granulations. 



5. *Vienna paste. A mixture of equal parts of caustic lime 

 [calx] and caustic potash [potassii hydroxidum] with sufficient 

 alcohol to make a paste; very powerful caustic for canker of the 

 frog and carcinoma. 



6. Zinci chloridum. A strong caustic; used in ulcers, fistulse, 



