352 
APPENDIX.—D. 
the virus, and keep it ready to be acted upon by a new absorp¬ 
tion. That such a fear, however, is groundless, will appear, 
when it is considered that the agent employed, be it what it 
may, which is equal to the destruction of the animal solids , must 
also of necessity be more than sufficient to decompose the ani¬ 
mal fluids also, and totally deprive them of any morbid activity; 
and this we find to be actually the case with rabid virus mixed 
with even diluted caustic matter, as has been exemplified in the 
experiments of Huzard, Dr. Zinke, and others, where such 
matter entirely failed to excite rabies: it must, however, be 
acknowledged that all these experiments require repetition. 
“Excision of the part, after the rabid bite, is practised by most 
of our eminent surgeons of the present day, in preference to 
cauterization. I have no doubt but that they do so on prin¬ 
ciple ; but I have never yet seen occasion to alter my preference 
of the caustic : and Mr. Youatt, whose practice has been very 
extensive in these cases, gives it his decided approbation also. 
It must, however, at last rest in a conviction that each of these 
modes may be supposed at some times the preferable one, and 
that occasions will occur where they may be advantageously 
united. As each claims some advantages over the other, so 
each also owns some disadvantages. A skilful surgeon, there¬ 
fore, will bind himself to neither, but will act according to cir¬ 
cumstances. The partizans for the use of the knife argue, that 
the operation of excision is quicker, and can be applied more 
extensively. It is certainly, where much is to be done, more 
quickly performed ; but when it is so done, unless perfect ablu¬ 
tion has removed all surrounding virus, may not the very instru¬ 
ment which is to insure life be sowing the seeds of death, by 
making a fresh morbid inoculation at every section ? To 
prevent this, therefore, when excision is absolutely necessary 
it is prudent, after every stroke of the knife, to wipe the blade 
carefully; but it would still more certainly avoid danger were 
the whole excised cavity well soaked with a caustic fluid, as a 
dilution of nitric acid; and, after all, it would make surety 
double, were the whole surface touched with the lunar caus 
