Therapeutics of the Gastrointestinal Tract (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913 Excerpt: ...even in this stage are often considerably benefited by internal treatment, so that the motor function of the stomach is improved to a great extent, we are justified even in these stages of the disease to use our best efforts in overcoming the difficulty by internal treatment. At times, the general condition as well as the dread of the patient of an operative procedure makes it imperative to resort to internal treatment. In the internal treatment of these conditions we must have two main objects in view. (1) To have the stomach cleared from stagnated food and mucus, and (2) To give the food in such a form as to readily pass through the obstructed pylorus and be no burden upon the diseased musculature of the stomach. To meet the first indication, lavage of the stomach is indispensable. It should be done in the morning, and a very thorough cleansing of the organ is most essential, until the water returns clear. This can only be accomplished by giving enough time to the lavage, and sometimes it is necessary to do the lavage with the patient in the right or left recumbent position alternately. The lavage has not only a cleansing effect upon the stomach, but it also improves the mechanical power of the stomach. Lavage also overcomes the pylorospasm that is so often associated with stenosis; and, furthermore, the lumen of the pyloric ring is cleared by the mechanical cleansing of the pars pylorica from accumulated adherent masses of mucus. The solutions used for lavage in cases of hyperacidity is Karlsbad salt (4.0: 250.0); in anacidity normal saline, at a temperature of 105 F. If there is a great deal of mucus in the stomach, cleansing with a silver nitrate solution (1: 2000) is beneficial. In cases with marked fermentation boric acid (4.0:250.0) or mild thymol s...