Injections of paraffin are accomplished with such ease without anesthesia that the mere fact that a hernia is curable without the taking of an anesthetic is an advantage on the part of the paraffin method which will be highly appreciated by a very large percentage of patients suffering from rupture.
It is safe to say that for every patient suffering from rupture who is willing to submit to the cutting operation four or five patients will be met who are afraid to submit to such operation because a general anesthetic is to be taken.
Applicable in the Physician's Office.
Paraffin injections may be made in the physician's office and there is no condition produced which renders it difficult for the patient after injection to go to his home, if he must not travel more than a moderate distance. The reaction may be such as to make it advisable for
the patient to remain quiet for a week or even two weeks, though this is exceptional, yet such avoidance of exertion is not looked upon in the same light by patients as two weeks strict confinement to bed.
The probability of escaping confinement is a great incentive to a patient to submit to an injection, when he would refuse operation.
Injections are not necessarily unphysiologic as the sufferer from a hernia has a physiologic deficiency which the paraffin accurately fills with normal connective tissue.
The dangers of injection can be eliminated. The technic is not difficult even when all precautions are taken.
There is less likelihood of suppuration following the injection treatment than following the cutting operation.
The consequences of suppuration are less. If suppuration occur after the open operation failure is likely, not to mention the danger of peritonitis. Such is not the case following injection, and while consequences are less