Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/504

47°] CAU and are cornyive or caustic. In this manner, both fixed and volatile alkalis, though already caustic, ac- quire that property in a far great- er degree, by being mixed with quick-lime j as tills substance de- prives them of a portion of unctu- ous and inflammable matter, and divests them of all their fixed air, which binds and restrains their sa- line principle. The late Dr. Black, when treat- ing on this subject, observed that the compounds produced by the union of metals with acids, are in general corrosive. Many of them, when applied to the skin, destroy it almost as soon as mineral acids ; and some of the most powerful cau- teries are made in tliis way. Others are supposed to be more acrid than the pure acids themselves, and produce apparently more powerful effects, when taken internally. Thus, a person may swallow ten or twelve drops of spirit of salt, without' feeling any inconvenience ; but the same quantity of acid, pre- viously combined with silver, quick- silver, copper, or regulus of anti- mony, will throw the whole body into violent disorder, or even prove , fatal, if taken in one dose. Caustics are not at present in general use ; they are, however, applied occasionally in abscesses, to produce an orifice, and to give vent to the suppurating matter ; as likewise to make issues in parts where incision is difficult, or dan- gerous, on account of the contigu- ous blood-vessels. CAUTERY, a surgical term given to substances which corrode or burn any solid part of the body: they are divided into two ci actual, and potential. By the for- mer are understood red-hot instru- ments, which were much in use CAU among the ancients, and are still employed by several barbarous na- tions, as their almost only means of curing diseases ; but, in the mo- dern practice of Europe, they are seldom resorted to, except for the firing of horses and cattle. Some practitioners, however, cauterize with burhmg tow, others with cotton, or moxa (particularly: the inflamed part of a toe, for pre- venting a fit of the gout) ; others again with live coals, Spanish wax, pyramidal pieces of linen, &c. But of all actual cauteries, the most ex- peditious and least painful, is that of strewing on the wound a small quantity of the finest gun-powder, and then setting it on fire ; a me- thod which, particularly after the bite of a mad dog, has generally been attended with the happiest effecl, while it always renders the operation with the knife unneces- sary. Potential cauteries are those which we have already explained under the head of Caustics. In this place, therefore, we shall only observe, that one of the most effec- tual methods of cleansing foul, in- dolent ulcerations, and checking the progress of mortification, espe- cially in the legs, is the cautious application of the following lotion : Take thirty grains of lunar caustic, dissolve it in a pint of the purest spring, or twice flitted water. If it produce a burning sensation which continues too long for sus- taining the pain in die part affect- ed, wash the ulcer with pure wa- ter, and make the solution weaker every time it is applied. Although this, in general, proves an excel- lent remedy in those cases, yet as . it is a powerful caustic, we do not advise an indiscriminate use of it, without consulting profes- sional