350 
APPENDIX.—D. 
not easily restrained. In sucli cases, a budding iron, so called 
among farriers, is an appropriate instrument; or even a kitchen 
poker, or any other iron whose surface can be adapted to the 
form of the wound, when heated red-hot, may be used. 
“ Caustics, or the 'potential cautery may be applied under many 
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 neighborhood 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 advisable, 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 is 
an extensive laceration. The nitrate of silver, usually called 
lunar caustic, liquefies 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 ad¬ 
hesive plaister then applied over to confine its effects. This 
method, as regards animals, can only be advisable when a very 
extensive laceration with numerous jagged edges and sinuosities 
exists, particularly in the neighborhood 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 rubbed or 
tom off. I have, through a very long practice, adhered to the 
use of this form of caustic, as the most manageable and effective 
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 cer¬ 
tain. Muriate of antimony, called butter of antimony, is a very 
