A surgical handbook : for the use of students, practitioners, house-surgeons, and dressers / by Francis M. Caird and Charles W. Cathcart.

Caird, Francis Mitchell, 1853-1926

Date:: 1889

Credit: A surgical handbook : for the use of students, practitioners, house-surgeons, and dressers / by Francis M. Caird and Charles W. Cathcart. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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$forceps will he found serviceable for most purposes, and fewer will noi. These are a straight pair, and a pair with the blades nearly at right angles with the handles, both of which will be re(|uired for upper and lower roots, and single-fanged teeth ; a pair adapted for the lower molars, and two pairs foi- the ujji^er molars—one for the right and one for the left sides. Many other foi nis would be di'sirable, and may hi: collected, but lliese five pairs will be found absolutely necessary. Jt has been stated that the blades at their extremities should fit that part of the tooth they are intended to grasp. In this way it will be seen that for single-fanged teeth these blades will merely rec|uire to he adapted for the oval form presented by a transverse section of such fangs- hollowed out, in fact, so as to apply themselves more closely to their surface. For nuiltiple-fanged teeth, the forceps nmst also be on the same principle, adapted to the form of the surface to which they are to be applied. One pair will be found to answer for the double-fanged molars of the lower jaw ; but for the three-fanged molars of the upper jaw, two pairs will be necessary, as these three fangs are always so placed that two of them are ne.\t the cheek and one towards the palate; consequently, the forceps which would fit one side will not at all fit the other. With this number of forceps, properly constructed, almost any case of extraction may be undertaken where forceps can be used at all. How to give a Hypodermic Injection.-To avoid the risk of mis- take, the amount of the drug injected should always be calculated rather than the number of minims of solution. This is necessary, because the same drug is often prescribed for subcutaneous injection in solutions of different strengths. Having determined the cjuantity of fiuid to be injected, the operator either leaves only that amount in the syringe, or, having filled the syringe, adjusts the screw on the piston, when that special form of instrument is used. Ne.xt, he raises the needle end of the syringe, taps it to cause air-bells to rise, and gently expels them. Then, with the left forefinger and thumb, he pinches up a fold of skin, and, after dipping the needle into carbolised oil, boldly plunges it through to the loose subcutaneous tissue, into which he slowly and steadily drives the fluid. ]'inally, layitig his left forefinger over the point of entrance, he with- draws the needle, and gently rubs the injected fluid into the surrounding tissue. Before use, an antiseptic lotion should be run through the syringe and needle. After use, the syringe and needle should be washed out with warm water, and the needle emptied by blowing through it. Then the wire should be inserted into its interior. One or other of two forms of syringe are used—one where the number of minims is marked on the glass barrel of the syringe, the other where an adjustable screw is fitted to the piston rod, so that it may be brought to a stop at any desired point. The measurement markings are in this case made on the piston rod, so that by adjusting the screw any given portion of the fluid may be injected from a full syringe. How to give an Enema.—Enemata or clysters are used for many purposes:— (i) For Clearing out the Rectum.—For this purpose a large amount of fluid, a pint or luore, is required, of warm water, either plain or made more stimulating by the addition of soap-suds, common salt (2 table$