ACUTE INGUINAL HERNIA. 39 



But this is not the principal point to which I wish to draw your 

 attention. The most important thing to bear in mind is the possible 

 occurrence of such grave accidents as that which overtook our horse 

 whilst I was operating on the foot, the occurrence of hernia from 

 casting. Luckily such things are rare. Still it is necessary to know 

 that they may occur in order to recognise and remedy them in time. 



This accident is the second I have noted among injured animals 

 in my clinique. I saw the first case in January, 1889, in a horse 

 operated on for picked-up nail of the near fore-limb. The animal was 

 cast on the right side. In his case hernia occurred on the left side. 

 Its presence was indicated as usual by colic, and the condition was 

 diagnosed three hours after occurrence. Performed rapidly and under 

 good conditions the operation succeeded. 



It is not always so. When sick animals are not watched with 

 sufficient closeness hernia may fail to be recognised until too late, or 

 pain resulting from strangulation of the intestine may be referred to 

 the operation which has been performed, the real cause not being 

 revealed until post-mortem examination. Even here I saw a case of 

 this character some seven or eight years ago in a horse operated on at 

 the school, and at once removed by its owner, who lived in the neigh- 

 bourhood. The owner noted that the animal was suffering from colic, 

 but as it had great difficulty in walking it was treated at home with 

 some nostrum. No one suspected for a single instant the existence of 

 hernia. 



I conclude by formulating the warning to be drawn from the above 

 facts : — Should an entire horse soon after having been cast for opera- 

 tion show signs of colic, bear in mind the possible existence of hernia ; 

 compare the two inguinal regions, and in proportion as pain persists 

 direct more and more attention to the state of these parts. 



