THIJ*S WORTH KNOWING. 253 



How to Administer Injections. 



As very few know how to properly administer an injection, 

 we submit the following directions: Take a wash-basin nearly 

 filled with warm water (about blood-heat is the best). Grease the 

 rectum-tube well before using it. Then, before introducing the 

 instrument into the bowel, work it a few times through the water 

 back into the basin. The object of this is to prevent injecting air 

 into the bowels; fill it with water, for the reservoir of the instru- 

 ment being full of air, on the first squeeze it is driven into the 

 bowel, and sometimes prevents the injection being proceeded with. 

 Then commence injecting, but proceed very slowly. This is one of 

 the secrets of success. The sudden introduction of a large quantity 

 of water stimulates the muscular action of the bowel to such an 

 extent that there is felt an irresistible desire to evacuate or empty 

 the bowels immediately, and this is one of the reasons why so many 

 persons fail in using an injection. Should pain be felt, or the 

 desire to evacuate come on, alter about half a pint has been injected, 

 wait a few jninutes until it subsides, and then go on again very 

 cautiously, the pressure on the instrument being very slowly per- 

 formed. The cause of the pain and of its disappearance is this: the 

 bowel, not being a straight tube but flexed upon itself, does not per- 

 mit the water to traverse it readily, so that the fluid and wind dis- 

 placed by the fluid are obstructed at each bend of the intestine, but 

 it is only temporary, and by waiting, the discomfort felt passes away 

 and the injection can be proceeded with. 



The question is often asked, " How much water shall I 

 inject?" and this is a most important question to answer. The 

 answer should be, " Go on injecting until the desire to evacuate is 

 too strong to resist, but you must not bring this on by too rapid an 

 injection." As already stated, the wash-basin should be nearly full, 

 for two reasons : In the first place the whole may be wanted, and 

 in the second place if you have not enough water, it is very incon- 

 venient to mix a fresh supply at that time. It must be borne in 

 mind that the quantity of water required depends on the part of 

 the intestines where the accumulation is. In some cases this is 

 very high up, as in the ascending colon. In this case a large quan- 

 tity of water will be required. In other cases the fecal mass may 

 be in the rectum or descending colon, when a small amount will 

 suffice. In some cases only a pint of water may produce an evacu- 

 ation. 



Some persons are unable to bear the introduction of more 

 than a small quantity of fluid when all precautions are taken, as an 

 Instant desire is felt to discharge it. When the patient can not 

 possibly retain more than a small quantity of water, it is better to 

 repeat the injection once or twice, as a second or third attempt will 

 often succeed. 



