Caustics. Subtances that corrode or destroy the texture of the skin and organized bodies. Their action is commonly called burning. The principal caustics employed by surgeons are nitrate of silver, caustic potassa, sulphate of copper, red oxide of mercury, and the nitric and acetic acids.

5075. Vegetable Caustic

5075.    Vegetable Caustic. Burn oak or beech wood to ashes. Make a lye from them, and simmer it till it becomes rather thicker than cream; the evaporation may be continued in the sun. Spread on leather when used. It is valuable in cancers, fistulas, scrofulous and indolent ulcers, where there is proud flesh.

5076. Medicated Lint

5076.    Medicated Lint. Dissolve 20 to 30 grains nitrate of silver in 1 fluid ounce distilled water; saturate 1/2 ounce of dry lint with the solution, and expose it in a saucer to the light and air until it becomes black and dry.

5077. Iodine Paint; Iodine Caustic

5077.    Iodine Paint; Iodine Caustic. Take of iodide of potassium, 1/2 ounce avoirdupois; iodine, J ounce; proof-spirit, 3 ounces; dissolve by agitation. Used as a paint in cases in which it is desired to apply iodine, in a strong form, locally; also as a caustic for corns, warts, etc.. (Soubeiran.) The tincture of iodine of the Pharmacopoeia is, however, more generally employed ; but it is only of about one-third the strength of the above.

5078. To Prevent Iodine from Staining

5078.    To Prevent Iodine from Staining. By adding a few drops of liquid carbolic acid to the iodine tincture, the latter will not stain. According to Dr. Bogs, of the Indian Service, carbolic acid also renders the efficacy of tincture of iodine more certain. He recommends the following formula, whenever injections of the latter are indicated: Alcoholic tincture of iodine, 45 drops ; pure liquid carbolic acid, 6 drops; glycerine, 1 ounce; distilled water, 5 ounces. In blennorrhoea and leucorrhoea, this mixture is said to be superior to tar- water.

5079. Caustic for Corns

5079.      Caustic for Corns. Take of liquid terchloride of antimony and tincture of iodine, of each 2 drachms avoirdupois; prot-iodide of iron, 7 grains; mix, and preserve it in a well-stoppered phial. Applied, with care. Two to four applications are said to effect a cure.

5080. Convenient Vehicle for the Application of Nitrate of Silver

5080.     Convenient Vehicle for the Application of Nitrate of Silver. At University College Hospital (London) they have adopted the plan of dissolving nitrate of silver in nitrous ether; it can then be spread with a camel's-hair brush over a surface, and the ether immediately evaporates.