Bougies

Bougies are rods of metal or other substances, used for distending contracted mucous canals, as the gullet, bowels, or urethra (see STRICTURE). For the urethra, they are frequently of German silver or pewter, and vary from $\backslash frac\{1\}\{16\}$th to $\backslash frac\{1\}\{4\}$th of an inch in diameter. Still larger sizes are used by many surgeons. For the other canals, they are usually made of plaited thread, like an ordinary riding-whip, impregnated with a substance called gum-elastic, of which the chief constituent is india-rubber. This combination of materials possesses a degree of firmness united with flexibility, and a smoothness of surface very suitable for the end to be attained. In form they are cylindrical, with either a slightly tapered round extremity, or a somewhat acorn-shaped dilatation at or near the point. The name is also applied to rods of similar shape made of gelatin, cacao-butter, or some such substance, which melts at the temperature of the body, and charged with medicaments, which it is desired to apply to the mucous membrane of the urethra or the nasal cavities.