DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. 149 



from slipping" off, break off the point of the needles so they will 

 not catch in anything ; let the animal up and leave the clamp on 

 until it falls off of its own accord, which is generally from nine to 

 twelve days, by this time the hole will be healed up and the rup- 

 ture will not be seen any more. After the clamp falls off there will 

 be a raw spot which will need to be watched in warm weather so 

 that maggots do not get into it. In case they do wash it off well 

 with warm water and soap and apply the creolin lotion a few times. 

 Warning'. — Be careful not to catch the bowel in the clamp 



with the skin. 



RUPTURE (VENTRAL HERNIA.) 



This is a rupture anywhere in the rim of the belly, and may 

 vary from the size of a hen's egg to that of a man's head. 



It is generally due to an injury from a kick of an animal, or 

 an injury of any kind which strikes and bursts the rim of the belly, 

 or it may be caused from an animal pulling very heavy. 



Treatment.— The way to be sure if it is hernia is that you can 

 shove it up through the hole in the rim of the belly, and as soon 

 as you let go it will come out again ; you also can feel the hole 

 in the rim of the belly. These ruptures have often been tried to 

 be treated with the clamp and cutting in and sewing them up, but 

 the best plan is to leave them alone and get as much work out of 

 the animal as you can. 



RUPTURE IN THE BAG (SCROTAL HERNIA). 



This is where the bowel and the fatty covering of the bowel 

 comes down along with the testicle. 



Causes. — Some colts are ruptured at birth and they never get 

 all right. It is also caused by the colt running, jumping or any 

 other such violent exercise, or it may result at the time of castra- 

 tion in severe struggling. 



Symptoms. — The scrotum has a swollen and enlarged appear- 

 ance, and you can press the bowel and covering up through the 

 hole into the belly, and when you let it go it will come down 

 again. 



Treatment. — If it is in a colt that is not castrated, you can 

 get rid of this very easily while you are castrating him. In a 

 case where you are going to castrate and fix the rupture at the 

 same time, have the animal well prepared by starving him a day 

 or so before the operation, then throw 'and secure him, shove the 

 bowel and fatty lining back into the belly, and in taking up the 



