The Piston, or Plunger, and the Care of the same.
If the instrument has stood some time without use, or has been kept in a dry or warm place, the leather of which it is composed may have become dry; it should therefore be withdrawn from the barrel and immersed in warm water, (not hot.) It should then, after remaining a short time, be saturated with melted tallow or sweet oil, which will restore the suppleness to the leather and cause it to work easily within the barrel. 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. The leather with which this is constructed is prepared in a peculiar manner, expressly for the proprietor, so that it will not dry hard, and can be used for a long time without parting with its oily matter.
N. B.—Extra leathers for the plunger can be obtained of the proprietor, or his agents, and sent to any place by mail. Price 12½ cents.