USES OF ENEMATA 31 



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 rec- 

 tal tube or soft catheter should be slipped over the hard rub- 

 ber tube. lu the case of horses or cattle, enemata may be si- 

 phoned through a rubber tube or piece of small hose. This is 

 accomplished 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 faeces (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. 3 ii.) an hour before the use of larger enemata 

 assists iu softening the intestinal contents. 



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 to simply 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 secured. To increase the purga- 

 tive effect of enemata a cup each of soft soap, salt and 

 molasses are added to a gallon of water ; or a tablespoonful 



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