8 April, 1908.] 



Diseases of Farm Animals. 



203 



caused on the belly side of the ligature as to have produced occlusion of 

 the navel opening. Another method is to use clams (see Fig. 23) instead 

 of a ligature, but their very weight renders their use objectionable. 



Scrotal or Inguiqal Hernia. 



This is a much graver form of rupture than the one just described. It 

 is a condition in which the loop of the small intestine escapes through the 

 inguinal opening (the internal and external rings) and passes down into the 

 scrotum or testicle sac. The frequency of these ruptures in Australia may 

 be ascribed to the relaxing effect on the tissue of the hot climate, and in 

 this connexion it may be mentioned that in France the veterinarian Bouley 

 has observed that inguinal hernia occurs more frequently in summer than 

 in winter. The exact nature of this rupture will be more clearlv under- 

 stood by reference to the accompanving illustrations (Figs. 24, 25 and 26). 



Fig. 24. Normal position of testicle 

 and of the spermatic cord as it 

 passes through the inguinal canal 

 from the abdominal cavity. (After 

 Flemin<7.) 



25. Infuinal or Scrotal Hernia 

 or Rupture. A loop of intestine is 

 seen to have passed through the 

 inguinal canal from the abdominal 

 cavitv along with the spermatic cord. 

 (After Fleming.) 



Inguinal hernia is often a cause of colic in entire horses, _ especially 

 when the condition known as strangulated hernia exists. In this case the 

 inguinal opening becomes constricted and compresses the part of the bowel 

 passing through it forming a kind of neck at which " strangulation" of 

 the protruded bowel occurs. Such cases are often fatal. 



Treatment. — In all cases the animal must be thrown and placed under 

 chloroform. Chloroforming produces relaxation of the muscles surround- 

 ing the inguinal opening and so materially assists in the replacement of the 



