The Systematic Use of a Mouth-Prop and Tongue-Clip in General Anæsthesia

Abstract

DISCUSSION.Dr. SILK asked if Mr. Collum had tried the plan of getting up a plus pressure in the bag directly the retching commenced; he had often found this efficacious. It was the same sort of thing as, when giving gas through the nose, one got up a plus pressure by cutting off the valves and over-distending the bag. He had done this also with satisfactory results in the case of hysterical movements and retching.Mr. BOYLE wished to repeat Dr. Silk's question as to increasing the pressure of gas in the bag. He would also like to ask why, on the third occasion that the anaesthetic was given, Mr. Collum did not try to get the patient under gas and ether, or ether, and complete the extraction of all the teeth.The PRESIDENT asked if Mr. Collum had tried the effect of rinsing out the mouth with weak carbolic lotion. In several cases he had stopped retching by making the patient gargle this. Once he stopped continuous retching during the administration of gas by a small dose of cocaine given by the mouth.Mr. COLLUM, in reply, said he did not try plus pressure with the gas and oxygen; but he had no doubt he did so when using plain gas afterwards; it was his usual practice. In answer to Mr. Boyle as to why he did not give gas and ether instead of ethyl chloride on the third occasion, he did not think there was going to be vomiting each time, or gas and ether would have been given from the first. He had not tried carbolic lotion or cocaine for stopping vomiting, as he had not previously heard of their use for this purpose.