HERNIA OR RUPTURE 



Treatment. — Umbilical hernia very frequently disappears altogether 

 without being subjected to treatment of any kind. This spontaneous 

 removal of the gut from its pouch is believed to arise in many instances 

 from a natural shortening of the membrane (mesentery) by which the 

 intestines are suspended from the spine. It may also occur as a result 

 of the opening becoming closed, the bowel being thus dislodged from 

 its sac and restored to its proper cavity. 



Where these natural means of cure do 

 not come into operation, the early recourse 

 to and frequent application of blisters over 

 the seat of enlargement will often suffice to 

 fill in the aperture and restore the parts to a normal condition, especi- 

 ally if at the same time the patient be put on a spare diet and kept in 

 quiet confinement. It is most important to the success of any treatment 

 that distension of the bowels be avoided, since increase of the pressure 

 from within tends to force them through the opening and prevent its 

 closure. 



Trusses are very difficult to keep adjusted in foals, but when this can 

 be done they are very helpful if applied over a pad of tow the day 



for Umbilical He 



Fi: . llC -Treatment ,,f rml.ihr.,1 11, ■ 



following the application of a blister. The form and adjustment of a 

 suitable truss are shown in fig. 114. 



Many foals are successfully operated upon by a simple method of 

 clamping the skin after pushing back the hernia, Before treatment is 

 commenced the animal is prepared for the operation by abstinence from 

 food for twelve hours, and then cast and secured upon his back. By a little 

 careful manipulation the extruded parts are returned, the skin over them 

 is then pinched up into a fold and held in the fingers by an assistant, 

 while a clamp of wood or steel (fig. 115) is placed upon it as close as 



