MECHANICAL (DYNAMIC) OBSTRUCTION OF THE BOWEL

It is not the purpose of this paper even to touch on all of the various phases of intestinal obstruction, but merely to call attention to a few features of this interesting affection. The first is the abuse of purgatives in this condition. Every surgeon has seen deaths caused by the injudicious use of purgatives. There are few things that require more judgment or skill than the correct exhibition of a suitable purgative at the proper time. Certainly in acute infectious diseases or in any case in which a toxemia is primarily present, a purgative is not only advisable, but absolutely necessary It is different, however, with acute obstruction from any other cause than that which has just been mentioned. A sudden obstruction, not due to nervous affections, always means one of two things: either an inflammatory condition of the peritoneum or else some form of mechanical obstruction, as bands,