BODY OF THE HORSE, ITS EXTERNAL ACCIDENTS AND DISEASES. 387 



XXIII. Rupture or Hernia. 



Hernia or rupture is the breaking away of the parts that contain the 

 bowels, sometimes in one place and sometimes in another. The different 

 hernias are named from their location : Scrotal hernia is rupture into 

 the scrotum, and the bowels pass down through the abdominal rings into 

 the scrotum ; this only occurs in stallions. Inguinal hernia is rui)ture 

 into the groin through one or both abdominal rings. Ventral hernia is 

 when the abdominal walls are ruptured and let the bowels through into 

 the skin ; this is most liable to grow to enormous size. Umbilical hernia 

 is rupture through the opening through which passed the cords during 

 foetal life, and which never has closed. 



Causes. — The last mentioned one is from a natural defect ; the othei-s 

 are from blows, kicks, great strains in jumping, pulling, falling, and in 

 the case of the stallion, it is usually caused by the exertion peculiar to his 

 labor. 



How to know it. — There is a soft, puffy swelling on a surface that 

 ought to be smooth ; it is easily pushed back and remains so as long as 

 pressure is maintained. Scrotal hernia is found in the scrotum ; the 

 scrotum is larger than it ought to be, and the hernia is often attended by 

 very serious results, such as colic, strangulation of the gut, inflammation 

 of the bowels in that region, moililication and death. Inguinal hernia is 

 found in the groin or flank, and is nearly as bad as the scrotal. All the 

 different kinds of hernia are liable to fatal termination as described for 

 the scrotal. Sometimes the omentum or caul (the membrane holding 

 the bowels together) only is protruded; then it is not so bad and not 

 liable to a fatal termination unless the opening enlarges and allows the 

 bowels to protrude too. 



What to do. — Try and reduce the hernia by pushing it back ; then 

 introduce skewers crosswise through the skin over the opening, and wind 

 silk around the skin, below the ends of the skewers, middling tight ; then 

 put on a compress and give the part considerable pressure. If this is 

 not successful there are other operations, such as opening the skin and 

 sewing up the opening in tiie abdominal wall with catgut sutures ; inject- 

 ing salt and w;>ter under the skin, etc. But these all require the skill of 

 the veterinary surgeon. 



Scrotal hernia is the hardest to overcome, and nothing but castration 

 will do it in some cases. Introduce the hand into the rectum and 

 endeavor, if possible, to remove the gut from the hole leading to the 

 scrotum. This done, put the horse in a stall where the hind legs stand 

 the highest, and feed on concentrated food, with as little bulk as possible, 

 and give perfect rest. If this fails, he will have to be castrated by using 

 the clamps and enclosing the external coverings of the cord, except the 

 akin. 



