APPENDIX.-D. 
353 
tic. Towards animals, particularly of the larger kinds, where 
dispatch is requisite, and where deformity and a destruction of 
parts are not of so much consequence, excision may be con¬ 
sidered preferable. In the neighborhood of large bloodvessels, 
nerves, &c., it is evident that the knife must be used with ex¬ 
treme caution; whereas the caustic may be applied freely with 
much less fear, as the eschar which starts up protect the parts 
underneath, and enables them to reinstate themselves previously 
to sloughing, if they should be slightly injured. The caustic 
gives little pain, and, by removing the slough formed, it maybe 
carried to any depth, and to any extent, with the certainty of 
destroying the virus as it proceeds. 
“ The flow of blood, during excision, is very apt to obstruct a 
proper and clear view of the extent of the injury ; and a conse¬ 
quence follows, which I have frequently witnessed among sur¬ 
geons in operations on the human subject, which is the removal 
of a much larger quantity of substance than is absolutely neces¬ 
sary. With the caustic, nothing of this kind happens : pro¬ 
ceeding deliberately, every portion of wounded surf ace is taken in 
succession, until the whole inoculated part is destroyed, but no 
more. 
“ Process of operation for the rabid bite. —When a dog, or any 
other animal, has been attacked by one that is rabid, it is evi¬ 
dent that a difficulty presents itself which does not exist in the 
human subject under similar circumstances. The incapability 
of the wounded animal to point out the wounds that may have 
been received, and which the hair may prevent from being ob¬ 
served, renders it necessary that a very minute examination of 
every part of the body should take place, by turning the whole 
hair deliberately back; after which, to remove any rabid saliva 
that may adhere to the hair in other parts, the animal should be 
washed all over, first with simple warm water, and, next, with 
water in which a sufficient quantity of either potash or soda is 
dissolved, to render it a moderate ley, in doing which the eyes 
must be carefully guarded. Having finished this operation, 
which will render the dog or other animal secure from acciden- 
vol. ii. 23 
