ASPIRATION OF THE STOMACH OF HORSES 415 



As above stated the invasion of the cardiac compartment 

 by the tube is immediately announced by a gush of chyme 

 and gurgles of gas. The tube, however, is soon blocked with 

 solid particles which arrest the flow. These are dislodged 

 by driving the obstruction into the stomach with a few 

 spurts of the pump, which then allows another quantity of 

 chyme to discharge. Each time the flow ceases the pumping 

 is repeated, and then alternate pumping and siphonage is 

 continued as long as any of the chyme can be thus en- 

 couraged to flow out. When the flow ceases entirely by this 

 process, quantities of water (a gallon or two) are alternately 

 pumped into and drawn from the stomach until the major 

 portion of the contents has been abstracted, and dilution has 



Fig. 209— Tube for Stomach Pump. 



arrested the fermentation in the coarser particles that could 

 not be withdrawn through the tube. 



At first the intra-abdominal pressure forces the contents 

 out, but when the pressure has been diminished by evacu- 

 ation of gases and chyme it must be restored by repeatedly 

 filling the stomach with water, which, upon being drawn off 

 each time, brings out a certain amount of solid ingesta. 

 Later, as the intra-abdominal pressure becomes normal, the 

 water flows into the intestines and further aspiration be- 

 comes impossible, but by this time the stomach and contents 

 have been submitted to a lavage that has effected a thorough 

 cure of the disease. 



Fourth Step. — Administration of Medicaments Through 

 the Tube. — Before the tube is withdrawn a quart of raw lin- 

 seed oil containing one ounce of aromatic spirits of ammonia 

 is pumped into the stomach as a diffusible stimulant, antacid 



