764: IIOAKI) OF A(il(l('l LTl KK. 



Treatiuent.— The froatmcnl df uiiiliilical liciniu is imi diituuli aud is 

 rollti\v«Hl by K<>«>«1 rcKiiKs. The iiu'lliod of oiK-iatiiij,' is as tdlluws: Tbt' 

 )iig is lihift'd on its back and licld tluTc by an assistant. With the point 

 of the linRor the size and position of tlie uml»ilieal openiiij; can be deter- 

 uiined. If tlie intestines do not pass tliroujrh of tlieir own accord thej 

 should be pressed throu.^li with tlie tin.yers. Tlie lurnia sack is then 

 held by tlie assistant and a strong cord tieti around its base clost' up 

 to the abdominal wall. The ligature should be tied tight enough to cut 

 off circulation in the sack and cause it to slough otT. The swelling in the 

 region of the umbilicus is sutficient to close the opening and in a few 

 weeks it will be obliterated. The simple ligature will answer for a small 

 rupttu-e. but if large, a multiple ligature must be used. The seat of the 

 operation is first washed with an antiseptic wash. A slightly ciu'ved 

 needle carrying a heavy linen thread that has been lying in an anti- 

 sei)tic solution is then passed through the base of the sack close up to 

 the abdomen, the thread divided and each half tied separately, or one 

 half can be tied and the needle carrying the other half again passed 

 through and tied, and tlie operation repeated until the necessary stitches 

 have been taken. In case of adliesions between tlie walls of the sack 

 and its contents, the hernia can not be reduced and it will be necessary 

 to cut into the sack and break dow:n the adhesions with 'the fingers and 

 close the opening by stitching across from muscle to muscle. Strict 

 antiseptic precautions must be observed In performing tl^is operation. 

 The after treatment consists in keeping the pig by itself for a few days 

 and keeping the part clean. 



'Scrotal or Inguinal Hernia. Symptoms. — This form of hernia occ\us 

 only in the male. The testicles lie toward the bottom of the bunch whicli 

 may be so large that it drags on the groimd. Raising the hindparts of 

 the pig Avill cause the bunch to become smaller. Strangulation of the 

 intestines seldom occurs. When the hernia is large, the pig does not thrive 

 and Avill become "runted." 



Treatment.— To relieve this condition it is neftessary to castrate the 

 animal. The pig should be starved the day before being operated on. 

 The covered operation is the one to be preferred. To remove the pressure 

 from the scrotum, the pig can be hung up by the hind legs or held in 

 this position by an assistant. The scrotum is then washed with an anti- 

 septic wash and an incision made through its walls. The operator must 

 Ite careful and not cut the tunic (tiniica vaginalis) of the testicles. The 

 incision slioiild be large enough to alloAv the testicle and its coverings to 

 be drawn outside tlie scrotum and i»eriiiit the operator to break down 

 with his fingers any adhesions present. A needle carrying a thread is 

 then })assed through the tunic and a cord as high uj) as possible, the 

 tliread cut close to the needle and the cord and tunic ligated. The liga- 

 ture should be drawn moderately tight and the cord and tunie cut off 

 about half an inch above it. The ligature should ho of strong material 



