Controlled Exotherm of Cyanoacrylate Composition

An adhesive composition includes one or more polymerizable cyanoacrylate monomers, a polymerization initiator and a polymerization accelerator for the one or more polymerizable cyanoacrylate monomers. A system for treating living tissue includes a first reservoir containing one or more polymerizable cyanoacrylate monomers, a second reservoir in a non-contacting relationship with the first reservoir containing a polymerization initiator and accelerator for the one or more polymerizable cyanoacrylate monomers, and an applicator capable of combining the polymerizable cyanoacrylate monomer and the polymerization initiator and accelerator to form an adhesive composition and then applying the adhesive composition to living tissue. The initiator may be a quaternary ammonium salt, and the accelerator may be a trihydroxy tertiary amine.