SYRINGE (Gr. ovpryE,

See also:

• REED
• REED, ANDREW (1787-1862)
• REED, ISAAC (1742—1807)
• REED, JOSEPH (1741—1785)
• REED, THOMAS BRACKETT (1839—1902)

reed,

See also:

• PIPE

pipe)  , a hydraulic instrument, based on the principle of the pump, for the drawing up and ejecting of liquids . The ordinary form is that of a glass or metal tube ending in a pointed nozzle and fitted with an air-tight piston-rod and handle . The nozzle is inserted in the liquid, which enters the cylinder by atmospheric pressure when the piston-rod is drawn up . On pushing back the piston the fluid is ejected in a jet through the nozzle . In sizes varying from the needle-pointed hypodermic syringe to the abdominal syringe, it is a common surgical implement used for the injection of fluids into the body or for the washing of wounds and cavities . The smaller syringes are made of glass, the larger of metal; the most common medical syringes consist of a length of indiarubber tubing, one end terminating in a nozzle of ivory or other easily cleaned material, in the centre is a bulb or ball which under pressure draws up the liquid through the free end of the tube which is placed in the vessel containing it . There are a very large number of different types of syringe used in surgical practice . A larger syringe of metal, with a flat perforated nozzle is used as a garden implement for watering plants .