A Murphy drip is a rectal infusion apparatus to administer the medical procedure of proctoclysis, also known as rectoclysis.[2][3] During the procedure, an end of the Murphy drip is inserted into the rectum and large quantities of liquid are infused into the rectum drop by drop.[4] Prior to fluids or medicines being given intravenously, the Murphy drip and hypodermoclysis were the prime routes to administer fluids such as for replacement when patients could not be fed by mouth.[5] American surgeon John Benjamin Murphy introduced the drip method of saline infusion per rectum in the treatment of peritonitis.[6]
The Murphy drip can be used for administering drugs by this route and the apparatus is also used in conjunction with a catheter for bladder irrigation.
The term can even be applied to apparatus used to administer fluids intravenously.[7]
A description of a Murphy drip set-up is contained in the 1932 Kansas Supreme Court legal case Ratliffe v. Wesley Hospital and Nurses' Training School:[11]
On February 14, 1929, "Dr. Horn directed the nurse to use the proctoclysis, known as the “Murphy drip.” While the operation was in progress a student nurse in the employ of the hospital prepared the room for the return of the appellant. The proctoclysis set was a part of the equipment of the hospital and was assembled and placed at or near the foot of the bed by the student nurse. The proctoclysis set consists of a standard which is an iron pole setting on a tripod containing hooks at intervals, and on these hooks by means of a chain, tape, string, or piece of gauze is hung a can containing hot water and soda solution. From this can a tube extends which is inserted in the rectum of the patient to whom the proctoclysis is administered. It was necessary to keep the solution hot in order that it would have a body temperature after dropping through the tube and entering the body. ... It was not unusual for the vessel holding the water to be fastened to the standard by gauze, string, or other bandage, although a part of the vessels were equipped with chains."[11]
References
^Yung-Feng Hung, Automatically closed dripping apparatus for intravenous administration, US patent 5 234 414, filed 28 September 1992, issued 10 August 1993
^The American Heritage Medical Dictionary, 2007, Houghton Mifflin Company.
^"New Syphilis Cure", TIME Magazine, 22 April 1940, Time Inc. retrieved online 20 June 2008.
^Morgenstern, Leon, "John Benjamin Murphy (1857-1916): An American Surgical Phenomenon", Surgical Innovation, vol 13, No 1, pp1-3, Sage Publications, March 2006
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