EUPTURES. 189 



through which pass the sj^ermatic cord, testes, etc., thus 

 preventing the possibility of rupture in that direction. 

 When this kind of rupture takes place, it is in stallions 

 and uncastrated colts, and requires for its cure the castration 

 of the horse or colt by what is called the covered operation, 

 that is, by leaving the tunica vaginalis, or inner covering 

 of tlie testes entire and uncut, and placing the clamps over 

 it, allowing the testes or stones to fall off, or be removed 

 in two days from the time of operation. As soon as this 

 kind of rupture is observed, have the horse or colt castrated 

 at once. 



(2.) ScEOTAL Rupture. — This variety of rupture, 

 entirely confined to the testicle bag, or scrotal sac, is also 

 the affection of uncut horses, and is caused by relaxation 

 of the fibrous tissue around the in2:uinal ring;. This is a 

 kind of rupture which comes and goes, as if it Avere an 

 intermittent affection. The rupture, or large swelling, 

 during rest will entirely disappear, and return during exer- 

 cise, sometimes with violence, throwing the horse, perhaps, 

 into a fit of colic, and inducing strangulation and death of 

 the horse. Scrotal rupture is sometimes confined to one 

 side only of the scrotum. If in time the animal should 

 not die from strangulation of the bowel, the rupture will 

 sometimes increase to an enormous size, hanging far down, 

 and filling up the space in and between the hind legs. 



Treatment. The same as for inguinal hernia. Of course, 

 in both cases, care should first be taken to push back the 

 bowels through the ring into the belly, before removing the 

 testicles. Scrotal rupture should not be confounded with 

 hydrocele, or water in the scrotal sac. (See Dropsy.) 



(3.) Congenital Rupture. — This is a species of rup- 

 ture observed at the birth of the foal or colt, and is the 

 least dangerous of all the varieties of ruptures, although 



