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DISEASES OF THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



the outer part of the tube is lifted upward to force the point down 

 into the pharynx. When the tube enters the pharynx attempts at 

 swallowing are likely to occur and these are just what are needed to 

 close the epiglottis over the larynx and to force the tube into the 

 gullet. If swallowing is not evident it may be brought on by push- 

 ing the end of the tube gently backward and forward into the 

 pharynx, and, when an attempt at deglutition occurs, the tube should 

 be thrust forward. If the tube goes into the trachea instead of the 

 oesophagus, it will meet with little resistance and expired air may be 

 felt coming from it, while coughing often results. If it is in the gul- 

 let, the tube will be held more firmly by its walls and only fetid gas 

 may escape with stomach contents. It should by these means be 

 definitely established then that the tube is in the gullet before intro- 

 ducing it farther. 



The tube should be made with white marks on the rubber to 

 show when it may be expected to have reached the gullet and again 

 the stomach. 



During the course of passing the tube it must be well lubri- 

 cated. 



When the stomach is reached the gas may have already escaped 

 and fluid contents may be siphoned off by filling the tube with warm 

 water from a funnel or syringe, holding the distal end tightly closed 

 and lowering it to the ground so as to permit of the escape of stom- 

 ach contents by siphonage. If the contents are largely solid, the 

 stomach must be repeatedly filled with 2 to 4 quarts of warm water 

 and allowed to escape again by lowering the outer end of the tube 

 to the ground. If the flow stops, owing to choking of the tube, 

 it may be started again by injection of water into the tube with a 

 syringe or pump. 



The latter must not be used to suck out the contents of the 

 stomach except so far, if necessary, as to start the siphonage. The 

 stomach should thus be repeatedly washed until the water comes 



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