TEAN8PUSI0N 733 



by adding a heaping teaspoonful of sodium chloride to the 

 quart of sterile water, which is used at a temperature of 

 usually 103° to 115° F., according to the mode of introduc- 

 tion and circumstances.* 



Simple distilled and ordinary water are noxious to tho 

 tissues, while salt solution is entirely innocuous unless it 

 contains three times the quantity of sodium chloride nor- 

 mally present in the blood. 



Mode of Introduction.— Saline infusions are introduced 

 within the body (1) by intravenous injection ; (2) by injec- 

 tion into muscular tissue (liypodermoclysis) ; and (3) by 

 rectal injection (enteroclysis). ' 



Intravenous injection is the most rapid and certain 

 method, but not so simple and practicable as hypodermo- 

 clysis. 



Any superficial vein which can be readily seen and 

 isolated, may be utilized ; preferably the jugular or internal 

 saphena vein in animals ; the median basilic, or cephalic, at 

 the bend of the elbow in man. , 



The Apparatus consists of a glass funnel or rubber bag 

 connected by four or more feet of rubber tubing, with a 

 canula or curved piece of glass tubing 4 inches long and | 

 inch in diarneter for horses ; ^ inch in diameter for dogs. 

 The apparatus should be boiled immediately before using. 

 The vein Is made prominent by manual pressure exerted by 



* The true proportioa of sodium chloride in blood plasma of mam- 

 mals is .8 per cent., or 123 grains to the quart. 0.6 of 1 per cent, of 

 sodium chloride is not really "normal " for mammals, but was deduced 

 from that found in the plasma of frogs. The injection of a too dilute 

 saline solution will cause the red blood cells to swell and part with 

 their hemoglobin and will lead to great sweating and diuresis in the 

 effort of nature to restore the plasma to its proper composition. . A 

 more exact solution for saline infusion consists of : Sodium chloride, 

 .8 per cent.; potassium chloride, .03 per cent.; calcium chloride, .03 per 

 cent. ; water, 100. In emergencies, ordinary table salt (which contains 

 a slight amount of calcium chloride, causing its deliquescence), in the 

 proportion of 123 grains to the quart or a level teaspoonful to pint of 

 sterile water, may be employed for intravenous infusion or hypoder- 

 moclysis. 



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