494 



HERNIA OF THE INTESTINE. 



Causation. This is due to the same cause as hernia of the rumen — 

 a blow which, while injuring the skin only to a trifling extent, damages 

 the abdominal walls, and even the intestine itself. 



Symptoms. The hernia is situated in the lower or lateral zone of 

 the right flank. 



The symptoms present some peculiarities. The loop of intestine 

 which has passed through the aperture in the abdominal walls be- 

 comes distended by the accumulation in it of semi-liquid alimentary 

 material, and, acting by its own weight, produces a hernial sac, which 

 steadily grows in size. The skin being very mobile, and the sub- 

 cutaneous connective tissue very loose, they readily yield and become 

 separated. The inflammatory symptoms disappear, and are followed 

 by a swelling under the skin, which is compressible all over, and can 

 readily be reduced, whereupon it gives forth a gurgling noise, or a 

 sound as of borborj^gmus. Eeduction is easier when the animal is 

 lying on its left side, or on its back. 



Complications. Strangulation of the small intestine is the only 

 serious complication in this form of hernia, but it is very dangerous. 

 It occurs frequently when the rupture is somewhat highly-placed on the 

 lateral portion of the abdominal wall, because the loops of intestine 

 have a tendency to descend, thrusting away the skin owing to the 

 weight of material which they contain. 



The partially digested food is apt to accumulate in the herniated 

 loop, and hernial engorgement, the first phase of strangulated hernia, 

 rapidly occurs. 



Fermentation is set up in the half-digested food, and putrid gases 

 are generated. Thus the hernial sac becomes distended, the vessels 

 are compressed, circulation is arrested, and gangrene supervenes. 



At this time gurgling sounds and a certain degree of tympanitic 

 resonance may be noted. These are followed by all the symptoms 

 of intestinal strangulation— namely, intense colic, which suddenly dis- 

 appears when the intestine becomes mortified, absolute loss of appetite, 

 stoppage of rumination, constipation, suppression of defecation, tym- 

 panites, and peritonitis. 



The diagnosis is comparatively easy at an early stage, owing to the 

 peculiar character of the soft swelling, which is easily compressible. 

 At first there may be difficulty in distinguishing it from a collection 

 of serous fluid, but the facility with which the swelling can be reduced 

 removes any doubt. 



The prognosis is always serious, on account of possible complica- 

 tions, due to strangulation of the herniated loop. When the hernia is 



