Elements of physics, or, Natural philosophy, general and medical : explained independently of technical mathematics, and containing new disquisitions and practical suggestions.

  • Neil Arnott
Date:
1827
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elements of physics, or, Natural philosophy, general and medical : explained independently of technical mathematics, and containing new disquisitions and practical suggestions. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    672/688 page 622
    irritation of the bladder, whether arising from stone or not, by keeping the acrid urine in a diluted state, or by applying bland and medi¬ cated liquids directly to the internal surface of the bladder. Not being larger than a common catheter, it may be worn for any period as the common catheter now is. It need prevent no sedentary occupation, and may be used during sleep. It will act powerfully to dilate a contracted bladder, on placing the reservoirs high, and so letting the fluid distend with the pressure of a lofty column. It also affords by far the best means of admitting any solvent of stone to the bladder. Even pure water is a solvent of most animal cal¬ culi, as is proved by placing them in a running stream ; but the living bladder bears with impu¬ nity a diluted acid or alkali. The syphon catheter (also first described in Arnott's Cases) is merely a catheter of a length that will allow its external part to descend, so as to constitute the long leg of a syphon. (See Pneu¬ matics.) Its outer extremity is turned up a little, or has a portion of soft animal gut tied upon it to act as a valve, for preventing the entrance of air. The most useful application of this instrument is to keep the bladder empty after operations, until the healing process has made a certain advance. The diffusion of urine among the surrounding parts after lithotomy, is often a cause of death ; and the syphon catheter, by providing a channel by which the urine must immediately pass away as secreted, obviates the danger. This instrument is sometimes useful in very irritable bladders, by
    No text description is available for this image
    No text description is available for this image
    No text description is available for this image