Thomas Lewis

“ If the instrument has stood in a very cold place, the leather of course would become chilled. This can be easily set right by merely immersing the barrel of the syringe in a basin of warm water. The interior of the barrel may sometimes become rough by means of matter adhering to it that has been used in the instrument, such as gruel, or other thick injections, and may cause an obstruction to the working of the plunger. The barrel should, therefore, in such cases, be thoroughly washed out with warm soapsuds before returning the plunger to its place. ”

“ In France there is scarcely a family unprovided with an injecting apparatus, which is always used when there is the slightest obstruction or costiveness of the bowels. These people mostly use a simple clyster of milk and water, and sometimes water alone; in summer they use cold water, and in winter, water pleasantly warm. It is to the warm bath and the common use of injections that are to be attributed, in a great degree, the cheerful dispositions, the uniform health, and the practical philosophy with which these people bear the hardships and misfortunes of life. ”

“ The India-rubber in a short time enlarges when in use so as entirely to obstruct the passage of the fluid, especially when a warm injection is used, which quickly softens and moistens the rubber. The valve, too, in such cases, if made so small and light as to avoid this evil, is liable to double or fold up, and is drawn through the orifice in the valve neck into the barrel of the instrument, and thereby entirely stops its working. ”

“ It is not necessary to accumulate the evidence of physicians concerning their utility. Every practitioner of medicine can recall the cases, in which a perfect syringe would have saved hours of pain, and in which he could find only the most inefficient aid from a leaky barrel and a loose piston. ”

“ Portable Syringe.—Our attention was called a few days since to an improved Portable Syringe for domestic use, which is of great value. It is superior to any other which has yet been invented, and [Pg 48] must, we think, be preferred by physicians and others who are obliged to use such an instrument. While it is very simple in its construction, it is perfectly adapted for the purposes for which it is designed. Its size is such as to make it a very portable and convenient apparatus for traveller's use. ”

“ Tepid or warm water always opens the bowels, but the very reverse of this practice is sometimes resorted to in desperate circumstances and with great advantages by some of the most distinguished physicians. In cases of very obstinate constipation relief has frequently been obtained when all other remedies had failed, by an injection of the coldest water, even of iced water. There are many persons who are constitutionally subject to costiveness. ”

“ In dysentery and other painful affections of the intestines, this is considered by the best medical authority to be a certain relief. Dr. Druit directs from one hundred to one hundred and twenty drops to be administered. A whole teaspoonful has been often used in severe cases. The less mucilage used, the more likely is the injection to remain in the rectum. An opiate injection for a child not over a year old may consist of two or three drops of laudanum mixed in three quarters of an ounce of mucilage. Opiate injections should not be administered often, without the advice of a physician. ”

“ Connected with the syringe are full directions with reference to its use, and the advantages to be derived from it. The mass of people are but little aware of the great benefits derived from the frequent use of common water injections. This want of practical knowledge arises more from the want of a good instrument than any other cause. We can strongly recommend Lewis's Improved Syringe in this particular. Physicians themselves would always find it advantageous to recommend a good instrument of the kind to their patients. ”

“ Those who need such aids (and there are few who do not, occasionally, at least,) cannot do better than to supply themselves with this instrument. Every family should possess effectual artificial means of this description, to meet those exigences to which the sluggishness of nature or disordered health may give rise. Were enemata more used in this country, we could safely dispense with much purgative medicine given by the mouth; and when this can be done, we are sure that physicians as well as patients will gladly embrace the opportunity. ”

“ An undue retention of the intestinal excretions is another source of disorder and of disease arising out of civilized life. It is produced by affections of the mind, by indigestion, by inattention to the calls of nature, and mechanical obstruction from organic disease, which last is frequently excited by the retained excretions themselves. ”

“ The temperature of the injections may vary with the state of the patient, and be either hot or cold. Warm injections may afford a speedy relief to some, while upon others they have no effect. In cases of leucorrhœa, if copious, injections of tepid water, three or four times a day, will be found to be very beneficial. In falling of the womb, injections of cold water in quantities of a quart at a time, have been administered with good results. In some cases of leucorrhœa an astringent injection may be required. ”

“ In cases where nourishment cannot be taken by the mouth, injections of strong beef tea or broth may be thrown up the rectum, to the extent of from half a pint to a pint at a time. A case is cited where life was prolonged in this manner alone for ten weeks or more.
Form II.
Take of starch or tapioca one drachm. Boil in [Pg 36] half a pint of veal broth, without salt, and three yolks of eggs. Beat well together and strain. Administer tepid. This is an admirable support to nature where food is not easily borne upon the stomach.
Nitrate of Silver Injection. ”

“ Warm water is injected into the rectum to excite alvine discharges, to promote the hæmorrhoidal flux, to diminish irritation in the large intestine, or in some neighboring organ, as the uterus, bladder, prostate gland, &c. ”

“ To one pint of water gruel or thin starch add a table spoonful of castor oil, or the same quantity of common lard, and a table spoonful of salt. This is an excellent cathartic.
Form III.
Take of powdered senna two scruples, of soft soap one ounce, to which add a pint of boiling water. This [Pg 24] is a very efficient cathartic enema in obstinate constipation, arising from colic, or other more inflammatory conditions of the bowels. ”

“ This disregard for the great virtues of injections must either arise from the supposition that the operation is too troublesome, or from a false and foolish delicacy, which forbids the use of an instrument by which the lives of thousands have been preserved in extremely critical circumstances, and with which every mistress of a family should be perfectly acquainted, so as to be able to use when required in sickness. ”

“ It is decidedly the best construction of metalic syringe that we have ever seen. It has many important advantages over any other form of syringe. Its construction is such that the valvular apparatus seldom gets out of place. It is small and convenient, enclosed in a neat box, and may be conveniently carried in almost any way. The objections commonly urged against the metalic syringe, are in this improvement wholly obviated. Its long flexible tube allows a convenient self-application. Persons having the syringe need not the aid of an assistant. ”

“ In civilized life, then, the causes which are most generally and continually operating in the production of disorder and of disease [Pg 10] are, affections of the mind, improper diet, and retention of intestinal excretions. ”

“ Persons may sometimes withdraw the piston or plunger from the barrel, and on account of its peculiar construction be unable to return it again. Therefore, please observe that it is composed of two round pieces of leather, which are turned in opposite directions over the metallic plates—the upper one turning up, the lower one turning down. With the leathers thus arranged, it is to be introduced sideways into the barrel, and the portion of the lower leather which remains outside of the barrel gradually and carefully pressed in with the thumb nail. ”

“ These qualities combined with 'Hard Ball Valves,' which operate as well with those injections of which gruel forms a part, as with those more fluid, render it invaluable to those who are obliged to resort frequently to the use of such an instrument for the purpose, and have suffered from having those of other constructions so often out of order as to be a continual source of annoyance and expense. ”

“ As a general thing, the symptoms are a bad fetor or smell to the breath, frightful dreams, itching about the navel, pain in the belly, and gnawing about the stomach, itching in the nose, frequent dry cough, with tickling in the throat, constant hunger, and yet the system becomes weak, the head generally becomes affected, face pale and of a yellowish cast. ”

“ In the latter case the discharges are generally copious, or in other words, of large quantity; and to produce these full discharges by stool, the injections of warm water, tempered so as to be pleasant to the feelings of the patient, may be frequently administered, and in such quantities as the bowels will bear. I have continued to give these injections of warm water for an hour or more, in many instances, before I could overcome or subdue spasm or cholic, and in cases of great constipation. ”

“ This worm is most common to children, but is not unfrequently met with in grown persons also. They are frequently found in the intestines in the form of a ball, in such quantities as to prevent the medicines which are usually administered from operating. ”

“ It has also a great effect on the whole system; it causes a determination of blood to the head, which oppresses the brain and dejects the mind; it deranges the functions of the stomach, causes flatulency, and produces a general state of discomfort. ”

“ When warm, they are of the greatest service in cases of suspended animation; and for the purpose of nutrition they alone have prolonged life for over ten weeks. Carefully administered, they are always safe. ”

“ These consist of small mineral balls, and are operated in an improved chamber or cavity, which allows them to always work well, and are not liable to stick or become wedged, as has been the case with instruments formerly made with this kind of a valve. ”