28 GENERAL ACTION OF DRUGS 



eral gallons) to flow into the rectum from a height of 6 feet until vomit- 

 ing begins. The anus should be compressed by the fingers while giving 

 the injection to prevent escape of the water. This treatment is valuable 

 in food or chemical poisonings or after ingestion of foreign bodies. 



Enemata are best given by allowing water to gravitate into the bowel 

 from a height of 2 to 4 feet. The ordinary fountain syringe of human 

 practice is suitable for the smaller animals, while for deep injections or 

 irrigations a human rectal tube or soft catheter should be slipped over 

 the hard rubber tube. In the case of horses or cattle, enemata may be 

 siphoned through a rubber tube or piece of small hose. This is accom- 

 plished by filling the tube with water and compressing it at either end 

 to prevent the escape of water, while one end is submerged in a pail or 

 tub raised 2-4 feet above the patient, and the other end is then introduced 

 directly within the bowel; or affixed to a rectal tube six feet long, when 

 deep injections or irrigations are in order. A continuous flow is thus 

 obtained. A still simpler method consists in pouring water into a funnel 

 which has been fitted to one end of a rubber tube while the other end is 

 passed into the rectum. That portion of the tube which is to be placed 

 within the gut should always be lubricated with vaseline, oil or soap. 

 Manual removal of hardened feces (scybala) must be practised in all 

 animals before the use of enemata. The finger or blunt curette may be 

 utilized for this purpose in small patients. The injection of linseed or 

 cottonseed oil (H., Oi; D., gii) an hour before the use of larger enemata 

 assists in softening the intestinal contents, or 1 to 2 ounces of glycerin 

 are used, to the quart of warm water or normal saline, to soften the fecal 

 masses. 



When deep injections are indicated, the hind quarters of the animal 

 should be raised — small animals may be partially inverted — and the fluid 

 allowed to flow in slowly, pushing in the rectal tube as the gut distends.' 

 Such enemata are more effective whether the object be simply to unload 

 the bowels, to cause retention and absorption of the fluid, or to wash 

 out the intestines. One to several gallons of warm water form a suitable 

 quantity for unloading the bowels of large animals; one-half pint to a 

 quart, in the case of small patients. The injections should be repeated 

 until a good evacuation is obtained. To increase the purgative effect of 

 enemata a cup each of soft soap, salt and molasses is added to a gallon 

 of water; or a tablespoonful of each to a pint. Equal parts of milk and 

 molasses form one of the most efficient enemata known for causing cathar- 

 sis (H., Ci; D., Oi). Linseed oil or cottonseed oil is also mixed with 

 water. Epsom salt is still more efficacious (H., Bii to gallon of water; 

 D., §ii-iv to pint) ; while oil of turpentine or tine, of asafetida (H., 

 §ii-iv; D., 3i-iv) is very active and especially useful in colic and flatu- 

 lence, mixed with the enema. When clysters are given to be absorbed they 

 should always be injected very slowly by raising the water supply only 

 from 4 to 7 inches above the anus. From 10 to 20 gallons of normal salt 

 solution may be given to horses within 24 hours and several quarts to 

 dogs — if an attendant can devote time to the purpose (p. 519). In 

 chronic constipation and torpidity of the bowels plain cold water 

 (55°-60° F.) injections are indicated. 



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