APPENDIX.—D. 
351 
favorite application with some practitioners, particularly with 
the French : it is applied by means of a piece of linen or lint 
fastened to a probe, or by aid of a camel’s-hair pencil; the sur¬ 
face of the wound being then smeared over with it. As its 
action begins immediately, and, after a few minutes, is confined 
to the parts it is applied to only, so it is evident that it is a more 
eligible application for extensive lacerations, and wounds of un¬ 
certain depth and extent in animals than the powdered nitrate 
of silver. Potass and lime are sometimes also used as escha- 
rotics. The mineral acids, and mercurial preparations, as the 
oxymuriate and red nitrate of quicksilver, are now and then 
also employed in this way. 
“ The use of caustics has been objected to , as not carrying the 
destruction of parts far enough, the formation of the eschar pre¬ 
venting the further progress of the caustic agent; but this I am 
convinced is not a cogent objection. If the nitrate of silver be 
formed into a point, and a moderate friction be kept up by it 
over the eschar, the decomposed portions are removed by the 
rubbing, and the cauterization goes on to any depth or extent 
required. In penetrating wounds, made by the canine teeth, 
the probe having detected the course of the wound, the knife 
may be properly employed to dilate it, and render it accessible 
to the approach of the caustic ; in which case equal certainty is 
gained by one as by the other, with less loss of substance. It 
has also been objected to caustics, that they may dilute the virus, 
and cany it farther within the wound; but, if previous active 
ablution of the wound has taken place, it may be supposed that 
no virus but that involved within the fibre will remain. It is 
truly said, that caustics cannot be so conveniently applied to the 
bottom of a deep wound : but in these cases the knife can be 
first employed in dissecting out the whole cavity, with all its 
parts. A much more imaginary objection has been urged to 
the use of caustics, particularly to those formed of the caustic 
alkalies, which is, that in their action they unite themselves with 
the morbid saliva, and, with the decomposed animal matter, 
form together a saponaceous mass or eschar, which may retain 
