CHAPTER XIII 



INTESTINAL IRRIGATION IN OBSTRUC- 

 TIONS OF THE COLON 



The subject of per anum irrigation of the intestines is 

 of such great importance as to merit further description 

 than the bare mention in Chapters X. and XL Par- 

 ticularly in the subacute varieties of colic I have been 

 describing will it be found of value. Needless to say, it 

 is obstructions of the colon that will be best benefited by 

 its use. I am not referring simply to the passing into 

 the rectum of a few pints of water with the ordinary 

 enema syringe, but the injecting of several gallons by 

 means of a forced water-supply, and a tube that may be 

 inserted for at least 4 to 6 feet. It is again to General F. 

 Smith that we are indebted for this further addition to 

 our knowledge. 



Once or twice in this volume I have referred to im- 

 pacted coils of intestine being found in the pelvis. 

 Whether the obstruction be in the small colon or the 

 large, I have no hesitation whatever in saying that 

 forcible irrigation of the intestines with large quantities 

 gf water will do more than anything else to save the 

 patient's life. 



If the obstruction is in the small or single colon the 

 impacted mass is comparatively small in size, usually 



