THE ADMINISTRATION OF PHYSIC. 581 
UNNERVING. 
THE NERVES distributed to the foot are sometimes divided for navicular 
disease, as they lie on each side of the bone above the fetlock joint. No 
one, however, should attempt this operation without having previously 
seen it performed, as it requires considerable dexterity for its due execu- 
tion. I have described such operations as can be wanted in the colonies, 
where a veterinary surgeon cannot always be reached, but unnerving is 
never required there, and I shall therefore omit any detailed account 
of it. 
REDUCTION OF HERNIA. 
Hernia is sometimes strangulated ; that is to say, the protruding por- 
tion of bowel is confined in its situation by such pressure on its neck as 
to cause danger of mortification. Under such circumstances, if it is found 
to be impossible to return the bowel by careful manipulation, an operation 
must be performed. This consists in carefully dissecting through the 
coverings of the bowel, and when it is exposed, a long and narrow 
guarded knife (Bistowrt caché) is passed by the side of the intestine 
through the opening into the abdomen, and then making the blade 
prominent it is withdrawn, and the fibres causing the pressure are 
divided. This usually allows of the bowel being passed back again into 
the abdomen, when the operation is completed by bringing the parts 
together with one or two stitches. 
WHEN HERNIA OCCURS IN THE COLT either at the navel or scrotum, it is 
often desired to effect a cure by returning the bowel and causing the 
opening to close by adhesive inflammation. If the colt is uncut, the 
performance of the covered operation on the French plan (see page 579) 
will generally succeed, creat care being of course necessary to return the 
intestine before the clams are applied. In umbilical hernia a similar plan 
has been tried, but the adhesion is too superficial to be of much use ; and 
the only successful method is the passage of one or two skewers through 
the opposite edges of the opening, and then winding some waxed twine 
round them, with a moderate degree of force. This should not be 
sufficient to cause mortification, or the opening will only be increased in 
size, and the bowel will protrude without any covering of skin; but it 
should be just sufficient to cause adhesive inflammation ; experience In 
such matters alone enabling the operator to hit upon the right amount. 
IN ALL OPERATIONS FOR HERNIA chloroform is of great assistazce, as it 
prevents the risk of a protrusion of the bowel while the knife is being 
used, which will otherwise sometimes happen during the struggles of the 
horse. 
THE ADMINISTRATION OF PHYSIC. 
MepIGINE may be given to the horse either in the solid form as a ball, 
or liquid, and then called a drench, or as a dry powder, when in small 
compass and with little taste, mixed with the corn or mash. Sometimes 
also a small quantity of a tasteless liquid, such as liquor arsenicalis, may 
be given with the food. 
IN GIVING A BALL, place a halter on the head with a knot, so that the 
jaws may be widely opened. ‘Then turn the horse round in the stall and 
back him up to the manger, lay hold of the tongue and draw it out of 
the mouth, grasp it with the left hand, which must also hold the halter- 
