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THE MOUTH AND STOMACH.

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the obstructing substance, and to draw it out. Several of theserings passed through one another may be used, the more certain-ly to lay hold of the obstructing body, which may be involvedby one, if another should miss it. These rings have one advantage,which is, that when the subbtance to be extracted is once laid holdof, it may then, by turning the handle, be retained so strongly inthe ring thus twisted, as to be moved every way, which must inmany cases be a considerable advantage.

Another material employed on these unhappy occasions is thsponge. Its property of swelling considerably on being wet is tinprincipal foundation of its usefulness here. If any substance isstopped in the gullet, but without filling up the whole passage, abit of sponge may be introduced into that part which is unstopped,and beyond the substance. The sponge soon dilates, and growslarger in this moist situation ; and, indeed, the enlargement of itmay be forwarded by making the patient swallow a few drops ofwater. Afterwards it is to be drawn back by the handle to whichit is fastened ; and as it is now too large to return through thesmall cavity by which it was conveyed in, it draws out the obstruct-ing body along with it.

The compressibility of sponge is another foundation of its useful-ness in such cases. A pretty large piece of sponge may be com-pressed or squeezed into a small size, by winding a string of tapeclosely about it, which may be easily unwound and withdrawn,after the sponge has been introduced. A bit of sponge may like-wise be compressed by a piece of whalebone split at one end; butthis can hardly be introduced in such a manner as not to hurt thepatient.

I have often known pins and other sharp bodies, which hadstuck in the throat, brought up by causing the person to swallow abit of tough meat tied to a thread, and drawing it quickly up again.This is safer than swallowing sponge, and will often answer thepurpose equally well.

When all these methods prove unsuccessful, there remains onemore, which is, to make the patient vomit: but this can scarcely beof any service, unless when such obstructing bodies are simply en-gaged in, and not hooked or stuck into the sides of the gullet, asin this case vomiting might sometimes occasion farther mischief.If the patient can swallow, vomiting may be excited by taking halfa drachm or two scruples of ipecacuanha in powder made into adraught. If he is not able to swallow, an attempt may be made toexcite vomiting, by tickling-his throat with a feather; and, if thatshould not succeed, a clyster of tobacco may be administered. Itis made by boiling a drachm of tobacco in twelve ounces of water.This has often been found to succeed, when other attempts to ex-cite vomiting bad failed.

When the obstructing body is of such a nature that it may withsafety be pushed downwards, this may be attempted by means ofa wax-candle oiled, and a little heated, so as to make it flexible ;or a piece of whalebone, wire, or flexible wood, with a spongefastened to one end.

Should it be impossible to extract even those bodies which it isdangerous to admit into the stomach, we must then prefer the least