172 OPERATIONS ON THE SKIN AND CELLtfLAR TISSUE. 



permanent marks. It proposes to effect this by throwing upon 

 the surface of the skia an even radiation of heat. The descrip- 

 tion given by Mr. Gaulet is this: "The iron beiag heated to 

 nearly a cherry color, a straight liae is made in the principal 

 direction of the region to be fired, and immediately alongside of 

 it another, and so successively until the entire surface is covered. 

 The first lines are then crossed, transversely or obliquely, by 

 others, which perhaps also touch each other, and at last, in order 

 to have the entire surface evenly cauterized, the parts which have 

 not been touched in tracing the original lines are also touched 

 with the iron which then retains but one-half of the h^at it pos- 

 sessed at first." 



* * * " After twenty-four hours, or perhaps less, an inflamma- 

 tory swelling takes place, and the skin is covered with small 

 blisters of serosity; three weeks after, the crusts which have fol- 

 lowed begin to drop off, and the hair is seen growing imdemeath 

 them." 



According to Bouley, this method cannot be substituted for 

 the ordinary cauterization. If applied lightly, its effects are not 

 more severe than those of an ordinary bUster ; but if applied in a 

 severe form, it is liable to be followed by the sloughing of large 

 portions of skin, and to leave behind cicatrices of the very worst 

 description. It has, however, in the hands of Mr. Paul Bouley, 

 given satisfactory results in its application upon the stifle, the 

 point of the shoulder, and the cyst of the withers, and with Mr. 

 Naudin, in the treatment of chronic swellings of the extremities. 



Firing in Superficial Points. 

 This form of cauterization is performed with instruments of 

 conical or oHvar forms (see Fig. 201), having the point blunt and 

 rounded, in order to rest on the skin without incising or penetrating 

 it. The point must not be so long as to cool off too rapidly, nor 

 so short as to be incapable of retaining a sufficient amount of heat. 

 In this mode of firing, the points or dots are arranged in quintu- 

 ples, a first series of points being marked in either a vertical, 

 obMque or horizontal line, equidistant from each other, and more 

 or less close according to the indications ; a second series is 

 marked on a parallel line, at a distance equal to that which sepa- 

 rates the dots of the first series, and placing the first point on a 

 line with the middle of the space separating the dots of the first 



