08 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



but not always, a layer of peritoneum. The contents of the hernia 

 may be formed by a part of the bowel, by a portion of the perito- 

 neum, or may contain portions of both peritoneum and bowel. 

 When the sac contains only peritoneum it has a doughy feel, but 

 when it is formed by a portion of the bowel it will be more elastic 

 on applying pressure. 



Causes. In the new-born animal the opening of the navel is 

 generally large, and this opening may sometimes give way to the 

 pressure of the bowel on account of the weak and relaxed condition 

 of the abdominal muscles. This defective and abnormal condition 

 of the umbilicus is frequently hereditary. It may be occasioned by 

 roughly pulling away the umbilical cord; through kicks or blows 

 on the belly; through any severe straining by which the sides of 

 the navel are stretched apart. We may mention in this connection 

 that it is best in new-born calves to tie the umbilical cord tightly 

 about 2 inches from the navel, and then to leave it alone, when it 

 will drop off in a few days in most cases, leaving the navel in a 

 closed condition. 



Treatment. It is well to bear in mind that many, and espe- 

 cially the smaller, umbilical hernias will heal spontaneously; that 

 is, nature effects a cure. As the animal gets older the abdominal 

 muscles get stronger and possess more power of resistance to pres- 

 sure, the bowels become larger and do not pass so readily through 

 a small opening, so that from a combination of causes there is a 

 gradual growing together or adhesion of the sides of the navel. In 

 cases of umbilical hernia where there are no indications that a 

 spontaneous cure will take place, the calf should be laid on its back, 

 and immediately on this being done the hernia will often disappear 

 into the abdomen. If it does not its reduction may be brought 

 about by gentle handling, endeavoring, if need be, to empty the 

 organs forming the hernia before returning them into the abdo- 

 men. After the hernia has been returned the hair should be clipped 

 from the skin covering it and a compress composed of ten or twelve 

 folds of linen or cotton should be applied, first smearing the skin 

 with pitch and then a bandage about 3 inches wide should be passed 

 round the body so as to retain the compress in position. The lower 

 part of the compress should be smeared with pitch, and also those 

 portions of the bandage which pass over it, so as to keep it solid and 

 prevent it from shifting. In some cases it will be found that the 

 contents of the sac can not be returned into the abdomen, and this 

 generally arises from the fact that some part of the contents of the 

 sac has grown to or become adherent to the edges of the umbilical 

 opening. In such a case the skin must be carefully laid open in the 

 long direction, the adhesions of the protruding organs carefully 

 separated from the umbilicus, and after the protruding parts have 

 been returned into the abdomen, the sides of the umbilicus must 

 be freshened if necessary by paring, and then the edges of the open- 

 ing brought together by catgut stitches; the wound in the skin 

 must then also be brought together by stitches. The wound must 



