The following injections are suitable for all kinds of animals. The quantity, however, should be regulated according to the size of the patient. Thus a quart will suffice for a sheep or pig, while three or four quarts are generally necessary in the case of horses and cattle. If clysters are intended to have a nutritive effect, they must be introduced in the most gentle manner, and not more than one pint should be given at any one time, for fear of exciting the expulsive action of the rectum. In constriction and intussusception of the intestines, and when relaxing clysters are indicated, they should not be too long persevered in, for falling of the rectum has been known, in many instances, to arise from repeated injections. Efforts should be made to relax the whole animal by warmth and moisture externally, and in the use of antispasmodic teas, rather than to place too much dependence on clysters.
FORMS OF CLYSTERS.
Laxative Clyster.
| Warm water, | 3 or 4 quarts. |
| Linseed oil, | 8 ounces. |
| Common salt, (fine,) | 1 table-spoonful. |
| Another. | |
| Warm water, | 4 quarts. |
| Soft soap, | 1 gill. |
| Fine salt, | half a table-spoonful. |
Use.—Either of the above clysters is useful in obstinate constipation, "stoppage," or whenever the excrement is hard and dark colored.
Emollient Clyster.
| Slippery elm bark, | 2 ounces. |
| Boiling water, | 2 quarts. |
Let them simmer over the fire for a few minutes, then strain through a fine sieve, and inject. The following articles may be substituted for elm: flaxseed, lily roots, gum arabic, poplar bark, Iceland moss.
Use.—In all cases of irritation and inflammation of the intestines and bladder.
Stimulating Clyster.