The mass is punctured in stellate fashion to assure an even necrosis, as shown in Fig. 518. [Illustration: FIG. 518.—ELECTROLYSIS METHOD FOR DESTROYING GROWTHS.] The mass will appear much softer after this treatment, is in some cases, as with flat moles, quite friable, but this disappears in a few hours and the mass begins to shrivel and dry up, forming a scab, which is between brown and almost black in color. This scab falls off in several days, according to its size, leaving a pink eschar, which gradually turns white and shows very little, if the growth has not been too large and the electrolysis carefully done. If little tumefactions, or tips of tissue, still appear, they are removed as soon after the scab falls off as deemed advisable by the same method. Warts show more or less recurrence. TELANGIECTASIS In this condition there appear in the skin one or many dilated capillaries. It is quite common about the sides and lobule of the nose and just inferior to the malar prominence of the cheeks. To destroy these the fine platinum needle is thrust through the skin and directly through the canal of the vessel. The same disposition of the electrode is used as heretofore described. Immediately the current is made, a series of bubbles of hydrogen will run through the vessel which presently becomes pale and empty, as a result of the electro-chemical action. The needle should be allowed to remain in the vessel from five to ten seconds, according to the size of the latter. The object is to set up sufficient irritation in and of the walls of the vessel so as to occlude it when cicatrization has been established. Some edema follows such a treatment, subsiding in a day or more. Several vessels may be treated in the same sitting, and at either side of the face. The operator should guard against too strong a current, to avoid scarring of the skin. The final result in this treatment shows fine punctate scars, as after the removal of coarse hairs, and sometimes pale linear scars, but these are observable only on close inspection. REMOVAL OF NÆVI Birthmarks, port-wine marks, and other pigmentary conditions may be entirely or partly removed from the skin of the face, according to the size of the area treated and the nature of the case. For this purpose the single needle attached to the negative pole is hardly sufficient, unless the spot is exceedingly small, therefore a bunch needle electrode is used. This electrode has a number of fine steel needles set into it, as shown in Fig. 519. [Illustration: FIG. 519.—MULTIPLE NEEDLE ELECTRODE.]