Fig. 94.—Water-cushion.
Water Cushions are flat cushions of stout macintosh cloth, half or two-thirds full of water, and laid on the mattress beneath the blanket and sheet (see fig. 94). They are more portable than the water-bed, but they are simply soft pillows, and do not counter-balance the weight of the patient in the manner of the floating bed.
The Stomach-Pump is used for emptying the stomach, or for injecting fluid food when patients refuse to swallow.
It consists of a brass syringe holding 4 ounces, of which the nozzle is connected with two tubes, one at the end, the other at the side. The passage through these is directed by a valve which is governed by a lever lying on the barrel (see fig. 95). When the lever is at rest, the current passes in and out of the syringe by the lateral tube; when depressed, by the direct tube. The elastic tubes with smooth nozzles, about 2 feet long, are fitted to the syringe. There is also a gag of hard wood, having a hole in the middle, through which the tube passes on its way to the stomach, to protect it from the patient’s teeth.
Fig. 95.—The stomach-pump.
When the pump is employed to remove the contents of the stomach, two washhand-basins are placed at hand, one empty, one full of tepid water. The patient is seated in a high-backed chair to steady his head; one assistant holds his hands, while a second screws the small end of the gag between the teeth and forces open the mouth, across which it is then easily fixed. The flexible tube, being well oiled, is next passed across the pharynx and down the gullet slowly and cautiously, without staying for any effort of vomiting it may induce; when about 20 inches are passed through the gag the nozzle has reached the stomach. First, two or three syringefuls of water are injected into the stomach; then, removing the second tube from the basin of water to the empty basin, the action of the syringe is reversed, by pressing on the lever as the piston is raised, and letting it fly up when the piston is depressed. Thus two syringefuls may be withdrawn, then fresh water is again injected and withdrawn, until the contents of the stomach are removed and the water returns clear. Precaution must be always taken not to exhaust from the stomach before water is injected, lest the coats of that organ be injured by being sucked against the nozzle of the tube.
If desirable, antidotes may be dissolved or suspended in the water injected. When the pump is used for feeding patients, one or two pints of beef tea, eggs beaten with milk or wine, Liebig’s soup, &c., are the kinds of food suited for the purpose. Each time the pump is used, it should be thoroughly cleaned by syringing through it plenty of warm water, and the tubes must be unscrewed to wipe the joints carefully.
Transfusion of Blood.—The points of greatest importance in performing this operation are:—