320 
E. H. SHEPARD. 
As to relieving the stomaeh of its accumulated gases by the 
use of trocar and canula or by tube through the cesophagus, I 
believe it easier said than done, for I have tried both, and con¬ 
sider the danger attending either operation sufficient to prevent 
their coming into general practice. 
ffihe first evacuation of the bowel of its (quickly accumulated 
gas may be sufficient to allow it to regain its natural action , 
but, with the knowledge of a progressing cause back of it, and 
the general appearance of the case, as a rule, a mild hypodermic 
of eserine will better insure a safe result at that time. 
I would not recommend the use of eserine while the walls of 
the intestines are under severe tension, because I believe the in¬ 
creased forced peristaltic action might easily rupture the mus¬ 
cular walls. But its conservative use, considering in this dis-. 
ease that the contents of the bowel are generally of a soft nature, 
I believe to be productive of good results and almost entirely 
free from any bad effects. It is quick and efficacious in its 
action, and has, if used properly, no bad after effects. 
To control the fermentive action progressing in the stomach 
a variety of remedies have been used with varied success. Tur¬ 
pentine and camphor, with large doses of bland oils, are used 
by some and do fairly well, although the former have a marked 
tendency to irritate, and under the existing conditions assist in 
the tendency towards later gastritis, while the latter is so slow 
in its action and adds to an already overloaded stomach. Sali¬ 
cylic acid, boracic acid, sodium sulphite, or hyposulphite, and 
dilute carbolic acid, have marked antiseptic actions, and under 
certain conditions may be all that is needed. Chloride of lime 
and charcoal act chemically and mechanically, but their admin¬ 
istration is often difficult. Sodium bicarbonate will add to the 
eructations of gas and often bring on regurgitation of the food. 
Carbonate of ammonia and other prompt stimulants assist, if 
combined with plenty of the antiferments. 
But no one is sanguine enough to affirm that they have a 
specific, because all know that to be impossible, considering the 
great variety of causes, and the varying susceptibilities of the 
