870 CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



XI. Rupture or Hernia. 



This is familiarly known as rupture. The investing membrane of the 

 abdomen is torn, as a result of external injury or of severe strain, thus 

 letting out the intestines into the adjacent spaces. The swelling or 

 enlargement of the hernia is sometimes seen as large as a half bushel. 

 It is soft, and is easily pushed back if not very large. Sometimes, when 

 a great quantity of the intestines is protruded, vvhatis called strangulated 

 hernia results, Avliich is always dangerous, and unless reduced, causes 

 death from inflammation and mortification. Umbilical hernia (at the 

 navel) is sometimes seen at birth in calves. 



What to do. — For calves, a compress ortruss is put on, as shown in the 

 annexed cut, adjusting it so as to make considerable pressure. If this 

 fails, wooden clamps, applied so as to include the skin over the rupture, 

 and just tight enough to set up a certain amount of adhesive inflamma- 

 tion, will be effectual, the compress being applied over the clamps. 



In ventral (belly) hernia, little can be done, unless the rupture 



is small, in which case the 

 same appliances may be 

 used. In a case of strangu- 

 lated hernia, when the gut 

 cannot be pushed back, the 

 skin may be opened and 

 the parts put back and the 

 wound sewed up again, — 

 first that in the abdominal 

 wall, and then the skin, — 

 and a compress applied. 

 TKUss Fou UMBILICAL HERNIA. Scrotal hcmia is very 



difficult to reduce. The 

 animal must be castrated by what is called the covered operation, for 

 which a qualified veterinary surgeon will be required. 

 XII. Strangulation, or Gut-tie. 



This is a passage of the intestines into the abdominal ring. It is only 

 seen in steers and oxen. The contraction of the spermatic cord foUow- 

 ino- castration leaves the abdominal rings open, and during severe exer' 

 tion, as in hard work, the intestines are forced through. 



How to know it. — All the symptoms of abdominal difficulty are seen, 

 together with pain and soreness in the flank affected. 



What to do. — The ox must be cast, an opening made in the flank, the 

 gut replaced, and the opening sewed up again, and a compress applied, 

 most of which are difficult and delicate operations, that require the serv- 

 ices of a qualified veterinary surgeon.^ 



