84 DR. LEGEAR'S STOCK BOOK. 



Treatment. Rupture at the navel in colts should be let alone, 

 as a majority of them will disappear themselves by the time the 

 colt is one or two years old. If, at the age of two years, the rup- 

 ture is .still present, it will generally require some mode of treat- 

 ment to cure it. Sometimes a good blister, applied to the swell- 

 ing, causes the rupture to disappear by closing up the opening. 

 Bandages are useful, if they can be kept in place. Another mode 

 of treatment is to cast the animal on his back, and carefully re- 

 turn the bowels into the abdominal cavity. A clamp, similar to 

 those used in the old method of castration, is put over the loose 

 portion of skin and tied moderately tight, and let remain on until 

 it sloughs off. The skin just above the clamp is held so closely 

 together that it unites, and, when the clamp drops off, the cavity 

 is generally healed over. Kupture of the scrotum may cause a 

 stallion very severe colicy pains by the- circulation being shut off, 

 or by the food not being able to pass through the loop in the 

 bowels which forms the rupture. In severe cases of colic in stal- 

 lions, these parts should always be examined. This form of rup- 

 ture in colts will generally get well of itself if let alone; but, of 

 course, there are cases that need treatment. In castrating colts, 

 this is one thing that should be looked for. If you wish to cas- 

 trate a ruptured horse, it may be done by returning the bowels 

 into the abdominal cavity and applying a clamp over the testicle, 

 bag and all, and let the clamp remain on until it sloughs off both 

 the bag and the testicle. In rupture from an injury, it may be 

 relieved by an operation. Fast the animal for twelve or eighteen 

 hours, then throw him, arid return the bowels into the abdominal 

 cavity. Then the skin may be cut over the enlargement, and the 

 edges of the divided muscles brought together with catgut 

 sutures, and the skin securely sewed with silk. Feed the animal 

 lightly for a few days, and apply a bandage around the body to 

 support the stitches. 



