158 WOUND TREATMENT 



had gTadually increased for about six weeks was any 

 attention given the case. Location of the enlargement 

 was in the left flank, and it extended from the umbilicus 

 to near the anterior iliac tuberosity. The fluctuating 

 center was about twelve inches in diameter. It was not 

 possible to determine the exact nature of the condition 

 without casting the animal. After properly confining 

 the subject, diagnosis was not difficult. The abscess was 

 drained of a large quantity of pus and the cavity irri- 

 gated with a weak antiseptic solution. The subject was 

 allowed exercise, but in about a week it became necessary 

 to enlarge the opening made for drainage. The animal 

 being hard to handle, no further treatment was given 

 him, and complete recoVery resulted in about a month. 



Traumatisms immediately resulting in hernia, with 

 more or less subsurface laceration of tissue, are met with 

 frequently in all animals. Contusions produced by 

 means of blunt objects often result in hernia because the 

 skin is freely movable, and quite capable of withstanding 

 injuries which do violence to the underlying tissues. 

 Subcutaneous rents result in hernia where a sufficient 

 opening in the abdominal wall is produced. Strangula- 

 tion of intestine may occur, and unless cared for, results 

 fatally. Strangulation usually occurs where the injuries 

 involve the region of the groin. Non-strangulated 

 hernias are often found involving the floor of the abdo- 

 men anterior to the inguinal region. 



No great difficulty is experienced in making a diag- 

 nosis of such cases, as they occur in connection with some 

 injury and the skin usually bears evidence of violence, 

 even though it be left intact. By rectal examination 

 those parts of the abdominal wall that are within reach 

 may be palpated and the nature of the swelling deter- 

 mined. Where strangulated hernia exists, diagnosis is 

 not so easily made as in cases of non-strangulated hernia. 



