BOUGIE

(bōō′-zhē). [Fr.] Syn. Ce′reus , Cere′olus , [227] Cande′la probato′′ria* , L. In surgery , a long slender instrument, originally of wax, [228] introduced into the urethra, œsophagus, or rectum, in stricture and other diseases of those organs. [227] Properly, a ‘little bougie.’ [228] Hence the name. Prep. 1. (Prof. Pickel’s.) Amber (melted), 1 part; boiled oil, 3 parts; mix, cool a little, and further add of oil of turpentine, 1 part; spread the mixture, at 3 succe ive intervals, upon loose spun-silk cord or web; dry in a heat of 150° Fahr., and repeat the proce until the instrument has acquired the proper size; lastly, polish it, first with pumice-stone, and afterwards with tripoli and oil. This is the original receipt of the once celebrated French profe or Pickel, and is still generally used, slightly modified, on the Continent. At the present time, in Paris, a little caoutchouc, equal to about 1 ⁄ 20 th of the weight of the oil employed, is generally added. For the best ELAS′TIC BOUGIES the proce usually occupies from 6 to 8 weeks, to allow full time for the drying and hardening of the composition. When the bougie is required to be hollow, a piece of polished metallic wire is introduced into the axis of the silk; or tin-foil is rolled round the wire and the composition applied as before. When dry and hard the wire is withdrawn. 2. (Hunter’s.) Yellow wax, 2 parts; red lead, 3 parts; olive oil, 6 parts; slowly boiled together until combination takes place; strips of soft linen (rather wider at the one end than the other) are then dipped into the composition, rolled up firmly, and finished off on a polished slab. 3. (Piderit’s.) Olive oil, 1 part; wax, 6 parts; as before. 4. (Bell’s.) Lead-plaster, 11 parts; yellow wax, 4 parts; olive oil, 1 part. 5. (St. B. Hosp.) Wax, 12 parts; Chio turpentine, 4 parts; red sulphide of mercury, 1 part. 6. Caou′tchouc bougies :—In France, where ether is comparatively inexpensive, these are made by applying an ethereal solution of india rubber to the silk or foil prepared as before. In England, naphtha was, until recently, employed instead of ‘ether,’ but it furnishes a very inferior product. Now bisulphuret of carbon is generally used as the solvent. Sometimes strips of india rubber, previously boiled in water, or that have had their edges softened by moistening them with a little ether, or bisulphuret of carbon, are wound round the ‘wire or foil,’ and kept in their place by a piece of tape applied over them. They are afterwards carefully smoothed off and polished. 7. Gutta-per′cha bougies :—These are formed of gutta perch a (previously softened by immersion in boiling water), by rolling it between plates of polished gla or marble. When skilfully prepared from the best (uncoloured) gutta perch a, they are admirable instruments. A bougie of this description, of moderate size, and slightly oiled, or wetted with glycerin or gum-water, may be pa ed through the whole length of the urethra of a healthy person without causing the slightest pain. Gutta-perch a catheters (hollow bougies) are still more flexible and easily introduced, and may remain in the urethra for a long time without causing irritation; an important advantage in such matters. The reader cannot, however, be too careful to avoid those made of coloured gutta perch a, which, unfortunately, rapidly become very brittle by age. Those originally manufactured in this material were coloured black, and were constantly breaking whilst in use—a disaster from which several serious and even fatal cases ensued. There is no such danger to be dreaded from those made of the uncoloured material when of good quality.