TRANSFUSION 701 



contains three times the quantity of sodium chloride nor- 

 mally present in the blood. 



3Iode of Introduction. — Saline infusions are introduced 

 within the body (1) by intravenous injection ; (2) by injec- 

 tion into muscular tissue (hypodermoclysis) ; a^nd (3) by 

 rectal injection (enteroclysis). 



Intravenous injection is the most rapid and certain 

 method, but not so simple and practicable as hypodermo- 

 clysis. 



Any superficial vein which can be readily seen and 

 isolated, may be utilized ; preferably the jugular or internal 

 saphena vein in animals ; the median basilic, or cephalic, at 

 the bend of the elbow in man. 



The apparatus consists of a glass funnel or rubber bag 

 connected by four or more feet of rubber tubing, with a 

 canula or curved piece of glass tubing 4 inches long and \ 

 inch in diameter for horses ; J inch in diameter for dogs. 

 The apparatus should be boiled immediately before using. 

 The vein is made prominent by manual pressure exerted by 

 an assistant, or by a bandage, applied proximally to the seat 

 of operation. The hair is shaved from the part, which is 

 cleansed, and an incision 1| to 2J inches long is made with 

 a sharp-pointed knife directly over the vein and parallel to 

 its long axis. The sheath of the vein is exposed, raised by 

 dissecting forceps, and divided. The vein is then lifted from 

 its bed with an aneurism needle, and two silk or catgut liga- 

 tures are drawn under it about an inch apart. The vein is 

 now incised longitudinally, and, as the blood begins to spurt 

 out, the distal ligature is tied about the vessel. The canula 

 is next passed into the incision in the vein toward the heart 

 and the proximal ligature is tied, with the first part of a 

 surgeon's knot, about the vein and canula, holding the latter 

 in place and preventing leaking of the salt solution from the 

 vessel. When the injection is completed, the tube is with- 

 drawn and the ]iroximal suture is tied on the heart side of 

 the incision, and thus the vessel is occluded on either side 

 of the seat of operation. The apparatus is filled with salt 



