Contributions to practical medicine / by James Sawyer.

  • Sawyer, James, Sir, 1844-1920.
Date:
1886
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Contributions to practical medicine / by James Sawyer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the simple coprostasis of ach^anced life. Within the limits of this paper I cannot particularise all the practical details of a})paratus, of quantity, quality, and frequency of intestinal injection, and the various manipidative niceties of administration, concerned in the question of the therapeutic use of aperient enemata. But I would take this oppor- tunity of affirming that in all severe cases of con- stipation, and in all cases of intestinal obstruction, in which we use enemata, we can only administer our injections efficiently by means of the long tube of O’Beirne. Let me recommend O’Beirne’s classical treatise on defecation to those who are unacquainted with it.' Than from a study of its pages I do not think I have ever i-eaped more })ractical profit from any of my medical reading. The gist of O’Beirne’s hook is the recommendation of the long enema tube, which for fiftv vears has been known by his name. Never entrust the use of O’Beirne’s tube to a nurse. The efficient passage of the instrument into and through the sigmoid llexure of the colon is a delicate and difficult opera- tion, which the medical attendant ought always himself to })erform for his patient. j\luch unneces- sary detail has been taught about the composition of enemata. When we use an enema for the pur- pose of clearing the bowel of faeces and liatus the * New views on the process of Defascation, Ac. Uy James O’Deirne, M.D., Dublin. 1833.