TRACHEOTOMY. 85 



separately, and the whole covered with some antiseptic. The 

 after-treatment consists in that usually applied to a wound, 

 whilst particular attention is paid to diet ; milk or soups con- 

 taining small quantities of some non-irritant antiseptic such as 

 boric acid or dilute chinosol may be given during the first 

 three or four daj's, or rectal feeding may be resorted to entirely. 

 When commencing again with solid food this should be cut 

 up very small and given as slowly as possible. The bad 

 sequela; to be feared are tardiness of healing, the formation 

 of an abscess, and ultimate formation of a stricture or fistula ; 

 but on the whole, if antiseptic measures are rigorously attended 

 to, reports show that the results are very satisfactory. 



Fig. ,51. 

 Tracheotomy tube. 



Tracheotomy. — This operation is performed to relieve as- 

 phyxiating symptoms caused by acute laryngitis or pharyngitis, 

 by the presence of some foreign body in the pharynx or larynx, 

 and in some cases if dangerous symptoms become manifested 

 during the administration of some general anaesthetic. 



The prognosis is usually good, particularly in cases where the 

 tube is only to be worn for a short time. 



The patient is placed in the dorsal position with the head 

 well thrown back and the skin of the neck held as tight as 

 possible ; after the u.sual antiseptic precautions an incision is 

 made in the upper third of the neck about an inch below the 

 larynx, at a spot where the trachea can be felt most super- 

 ficially ; the latter is picked up with a sharp curved hook or 



