CAUSTICS. 
451 
Acid Caustics. — Nitric , Chloro-Nitric, Chloro-Bromic, Chromic , 
Sulphuric , Sfc. 
In general, the results which they produce occupy the 
first rank as regards extent, and the second for consistence ; 
their action is essentially penetrating; their action on the 
elements of the blood varies ; they solidify the albumen of 
the blood into a paste, with a greasy appearance; they 
coagulate the globules of the blood ; hydrochloric acid de- 
stroys them, forming a gelatinous magma. They liquefy the 
fibrine. 
They attack the skin powerfully when not deprived of 
epidermis, thus recalling the action of the alkaline caustics ; 
but if the acids are not very concentrated, they wrinkle and 
crack it without cauterizing. 
With the exposed Muscle.—N moderately firm eschar, more 
or less spongy ; more often irregular, incomplete, and thus 
showing that they penetrate deeply, but not energetically. 
Its thickness easily becomes 3 millimetres, and we find even 
more deeply that it has been imbibed. 
They produce abundant suppuration. 
When dried, as far as possible, in the open air, the eschar 
weighs four, when that cauterized with alkalies weighs two, 
and that with metallic salts weighs one. 
Metallic Caustics . — Of Antimony , Silver , Arsenic , Gold , Mercury , 
Tin , Zinc, fyc. 
In general, the results which they give are combinations 
-which, among caustics, occupy the first rank as to consist- 
ence, and the last as regards extent, and even sometimes of 
homogeneousness. 
They solidify the elements of the blood, albumen, globule, 
albumenose, hematine, and fibrine, and are, moreover, cha- 
racterised by their easy desiccation, and the insolubility of 
the compound pro'duced. 
With the sJcin, the epidermis is not attacked by metallic 
caustics which are not dissolved in an excess of acid, or which 
are not decomposed in contact with it; when applied, the 
epidermis is only more or less wrinkled. 
With the exposed Muscle . — A dry, hard eschar, generally 
well defined. 
Whether obtained from dead or living beings, the eschar 
produced by metallic caustics may be preserved indefinitely, 
for they are imputrescible. 
