In repeating Dr. Senn's experiments, of insufflation per rectum of hydrogen gas, I found considerable difficulty at times, to prevent the gas from escaping out of the rectum, using the ordinary syringe tip. I found this to be the case in experimenting on dogs, and also on the human cadaver.
Dr. Senn recommends in his paper on "Insufflation of Hydrogen Gas per Rectum," etc., that "an assistant hold the margin of the rectum around the syringe tip."
In order to obviate the inconveniences of an ordinary syringe tip, and do away with the need of an assistant in controlling the margin of the rectum, I devised the herein described rectal plug.
This plug has given great satisfaction, having used it in applying Senn's test in four cases of gunshot wounds of the abdomen which were brought to the City Hospital, and in a case of obstruction of the bowel due