DISEASES OF CATTLE 99 



be carefully dressed every day and a bandage passed round the 

 body so as to cover and protect the part operated on. 



In the small hernias nitric acid has been used successfully in the 

 same manner as has been described in speaking of the treatment 

 of ventral hernia. Sulphuric acid has also been used for a similar 

 purpose, diluting it to the extent of 1 part of acid to 3 or 5 of 

 water. In thin-skinned animals the weaker preparations ought to 

 be preferred, and caution must be exercised in using such prepara- 

 tions so as not to destroy the tissues on which they are applied. 



Another method of treatment is, after the contents of the sac 

 have been returned into the abdomen, to tie a piece of strong waxed 

 cord round the pendulous portion which formed the outer covering 

 of the hernia. The string is apt to slacken after two or three days, 

 when a new piece of cord should ^be applied above the first one. 

 The constriction of the skin sets up inflammation, which generally 

 extends to the umbilicus and causes the edges to adhere together, 

 and by the time the portion of skin below the ligature has lost its 

 vitality and dropped off, the umbilicus is closed and there is no 

 danger of abdominal organs protruding through it. This is what 

 takes place when this method has a favorable result, though if the 

 umbilicus does not become adherent and the skin sloughs, the 

 bowels will protrude through the opening. 



Gut-Tie (Peritoneal Hernia). In peritoneal hernia of the 

 ox a loop or knuckle of intestine enters from the abdomen into a 

 rent in that part of the peritoneum which is situated at the margin 

 of the hip bone or it passes under the remains of the spermatic 

 cord, the end of which may be grown fast to the inner inguinal 

 ring. The onward pressure of the bowel, as well as the occasional 

 turning of the latter round the spermatic cord, is the cause of the 

 cord exercising considerable pressure on the bowel, which occasions 

 irritation, obstructs the passage of excrement, and excites inflam- 

 mation, which terminates in gangrene and death. 



The rent in the peritoneum is situated at the upper and front 

 part of the pelvis, nearer to the sacrum than the pubis. 



Causes. Among the causes of peritoneal hernia considerable 

 importance is attached to a method of castration which is prac- 

 ticed in certain districts, viz, the tearing or rupturing of the sper- 

 matic cord by main force instead of dividing it at a proper dis- 

 tance above the testicle in a surgical manner. After this violent 

 and rough method of operating, the cord retracts into the abdomen 

 and its stump becomes adherent to some part of the peritoneum, 

 or it may wind around the bowel and then the stump becomes ad- 

 herent so that strangulation of the bowel results. The rough drag- 

 ging on the cord may also cause a tear in the peritoneum, the re- 

 sult of which need not be described. The severe exertion of as- 

 cending hills and mountains, drawing heavy loads, or the strain- 

 ing which oxen undergo while fighting each other may also give 

 rise to peritoneal hernia. 



Symptoms. The ox suddenly becomes very restless, stamps 

 with his feet, moves backward and forward, hurriedly lies down, 



