416 VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



and purgative. If, however, purgation is deemed unneces- 

 sary, two ounces of alchol in a quart of water should be sub- 

 stituted. 



Note.— The water injected should be warmed to about 

 no° Fahr. The practice of dissolving sodium chloride in 

 the water, recommended by Phillips, is helpful, but the total 

 amount of salt injected should be limited to less than a 

 pound. A larger amount, in addition to the large quantity 

 of water that finds its way into the intestines, frequently 

 provokes excessive purgation on the following days. 



Some notice should be taken of tlie amount of water in- 

 jected in excess of that withdrawn, by injecting from one 

 pail and withdrawing into another, in order to prevent over- 

 filling the alimentary tract unconsciously. 



SEQUELiE AND ACCIDENTS.— i. Epistaxis some- 

 times occurs from wounding the Schneiderian membrane 

 with the tube. The accident occurs while the tube is being " 

 introduced or withdrawn, and is prevented by passing it 

 safely and slowly into the inferiof nasal meatus, and by 

 avoiding force in withdrawal. A jerk of the head while the 

 end of the tube is invading the middle of the nasal fossa must 

 be provided against, and if the progress is blocked by-curling 

 of the tube in the pharynx the use of force will bend it in 

 the nasal meatus and thus injure the turbinated bone. 



Epistaxis is never serious but it is always exceedingly 

 annoying and is certain to create anxiety that can not be 

 easily dispelled. The bleeding is seldom profuse and re- 

 quires generally no special attention, although cold baths 

 over the nasal region and the administration of ergotin 

 hypodermically may be prudent. 



2. Super-purgation induced by injections of large quan- 

 tities of water and predisposed by the weakened condition 

 of the intestinal walls, although rare, sometimes supervenes. 

 It is prevented by limiting the amount of water injected to 

 less then five to six gallons. The treatment consists of with- 

 holding water and the administration of nux vomica and 

 alcohol in repeated medicinal doses. Opiates seem harmful. 



3. Mechanical Pneumonia is not usually due to the 

 operation itself, but to the inspiration of regurgitated chyme, 

 and serious bloating may ensue before relief can be afforded. 

 It follows the neglected case, and the case treated by 

 drenches during the sojourn of the gastric tensibn, but some- 

 times is caused by unconsciously passing the tube into the 

 bronchi. 



4. Failure to Pass the Tube into the CEsophagus.— De- 



