Sentence:  [George A.] Wyeth, who is also a first class surgeon, as well as urologist, has made use of the desiccation and endothermic method to destroy tumors in the bladder by making a suprapublic opening and then penetrating and <WSD>desiccating</WSD> the disease in an area all around the base of the tumor which is then undermined, <WSD>desiccated</WSD>, and removed. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To remove moisture from; to dry. (from late 16th c.)