Treatment of Paralytic Ileus

junction or parasympathetic nerves and help the peristalsis to return. Those who support Robb's (1932) views of paralytic ileus have advocated spinal ansesthesia or splanchnic amesthesia if possible. The other group of surgeons does not rely on this conservative line of treatment and has advocated operative drainage of the distended gut, viz enterostomy. In their opinion the distension of the gut when relieved will help in the return of the tone of the gut musculature. Prominent amongst the latter group are Krogius, Heidenhain, Melchior, Hofmeister and Kanusch. Unfortunately, the operative drainage of the distended coils of the paralysed gut has been successful in a few cases only. It has been found that the catheter drainage can relieve only a segment of the distended coil. So Heidenhain and others, the strong supporters of this group, have recommended the employment of multiple enterostomies. But the very conception as to the genesis of paralytic ileus leads one to conclude that such measures for relief