66 COLICS AND THEIR TREATMENT 



the necessity for lubricating the stylet well is appre- 

 ciated. 



The operation of washing out the contents of the stom- 

 ach now begins. Water at 110° F. is used. Often large 

 quantities of material will flow out as soon as the stylet 

 is removed, but when the flow ceases the water is 

 pumped in, first in small quantities, detaching the tube 

 from the pump frequently to allow the syphoning to con- 

 tinue. When there is no more reflux from this alternate 

 pumping and syphoning two or even three gallons of the 

 hot water may then be pumped in slowly, watching cau- 

 tiously all the while for a well marked distress the over- 

 filling of the stomach always produces. When this is 

 observed the pump is again detached and the contents 

 allowed to flow out again. This may be repeated ad 

 libitum so long as a more or less accurate account is 

 kept of the difference between the amount pumped in and 

 the amount evacuated. The desideratum being to leave 

 at least as much in volume in the viscera as was evacu- 

 ated. Six to eight ounces of ether, stirred into the water, 

 may be pumped into the stomach as a parting treatment. 



This describes fairly well our procedure against acute 

 indigestion and acute gastritis, the two chief diseases for 

 which stomach cathetrization is indicated. 



Sequels of Stomach Cathetrization 



The sudden evacuation of the overwhelmed viscera 

 particularly if the attack has been of several hours' dura- 

 tion may be followed by shock on resumption of the 

 splanchnic circulation that had been dammed up by the 

 pressure. It may be mild, serious, or even fatal, accord- 



