— _ BOTANIC PHYSICIAN. 
4 
RUPTURE, OR HERNIA. 
A rupture takes place where the muscular walls or covering of 
abdomen give way in any part; and a portion of the contents are p 
truded, forming an external tumor. The parts most liable to 1m 
_ ture are the groin, scrotum, the labia in women, the upper and fore 
_ partof the thigh, and the navel. These tumors generally contaif 
portion of the caul, or fatty substunce about the intestines, or of 
s 
small intestines themselves, or of both. 
is protrusion of a portion of the bowels is not in conseq 
of the actual rupture or laceration of the parts, but of their exte 
or elongation into a sac. For there are several weak points, ( 
rings, in the muscular covering of the belly, which are only defended 
by a thin membrane and_it is in these points that the protrusion” 
 happ he principal of these | ‘are two, one above each te& 
nd h these that the testicle descends from the ab 
omen of the male éhild into the scrotum, at about the eighth month: 
There are also other rings for the passage of the blood vessels inté 
the thigh and at the navel. ea 
It may be supposed from the above description, that upon the de 
_ scent of the testicle in infants, and before the passage is silfficie 
contracted, a portion of the intestines may very casily slide dow! 
with the testicle into the scrotum. This, therefore, frequently take 
_ place in infants, and is called congenital hernia. In this case, if the 
gut, or other parts which have fallen down, are again pushed into! 
abdomen, and retained there with a truss, the passage soon fills! 
and n ia takes place. But if this is neglected { 
ition to close up, and the 
whatever, therefore, terids by compression to lessen the cavilf 
: », Must Occasion a proportional risk of so on 
Z Siew ion a me of the e 
aa, A gee pone: pushed from their natural situation: The ab 
dominal muscle agm are excited to severe contraction B 
jaughing: 
