Drainage-tubes,

Drainage-tubes, in Surgery, are a recent but important addition to the surgical appliances for which this profession is indebted to a distinguished French surgeon, M. Chassaignac. Their general adoption in Britain has been largely due to the advocacy of Sir Joseph Lister. They are composed of india-rubber, from $\backslash frac\{1\}\{8\}$ to $\backslash frac\{3\}\{8\}$ inch in diameter, perforated with numerous holes, and of various lengths. They are especially useful in chronic abscesses, but also in large wounds, such as those made by amputation, and in all cases where there is apt to be a deep accumulation of discharge. They are introduced in such a manner that one end is on a level with, or projects above the skin; the other is in communication with the seat of discharge; and by allowing that discharge constantly to escape from the external wound, they diminish both chemical irritation from putrid accumulation and mechanical irritation from pressure. For operation wounds, some surgeons prefer to use tubes of decalcified bone, which are gradually absorbed by the action of the tissues, and do not necessitate a change of dressing for their removal. In some situations, where india-rubber tubes would be apt to collapse under the pressure of the surrounding parts, tubes of glass (in certain abdominal operations) or of metal (in empyema) may be used instead.