ACUTE INDIGESTION. 
397 
as a dernier ressort , while others claim its use only to be of value 
before the bowels become fully distended. While I by all 
means prefer the latter course, yet we must not be too hasty. 
Just to what extent the bowels should be allowed to fill 
before puncturing is hard to indicate, but suffice it to say that 
the surgeon in charge must use his own judgment, and in 
no case run risk of rupture, or even severe tension of the 
bowels. 
To have the trocar and cannula in a thoroughly aseptic con¬ 
dition cannot be too strongly recommended. 
My experience has been that the right side should always 
be chosen to puncture, and that no incision is necessary in 
the horse or mule, but that the part should always be eased 
with carbolized ointment to facilitate the entrance of trocar as 
well as the withdrawal of cannula. If gases are being generated 
very fast the cannula should be allowed to remain in for twenty 
minutes or half hour. This I think being preferable to punctur¬ 
ing so often. 
As to the antiseptics to be used, I think salicyilic acid stands 
at the head. Not only does it arrest fermentation of food in the 
stomach and bowels, but when absorbed counteracts the poison¬ 
ous effects of the gases absorbed and is non-irritating. 
As an antispasmodic morphine hypodermically, and as a 
sedative tincture of aconite, sodium sulphite, boracic acid and 
bicarbonate of soda have all been used with some degree of 
success. 
In indigestion, as in colic, most every practitioner has his 
own favorite remedy, and if he has been successful should con¬ 
tinue its use. 
To sum up the treatment in a few words I would say, that 
we must ever bear in mind a few things. First, the fermenta¬ 
tion of food; second, the tendency to inflammation, and third, 
the danger of rupture of stomach or bowels. Surely, then, we 
must not give irritating antiseptics and diffusible stimulants to 
promote inflammation, and must not too long delay the use of 
trocar and run risk of rupture either partial or complete. 
