HERNLE. 417 



lie, as inguinal, umbilical, scrotal herniie, etc. Hernife are 

 further divided into reducible, irreducible, and strangulated. 

 Any condition that interferes with the circulation of the 

 part causes strangulation. Inguinal and ventral hernise are 

 not so common among the lower animals as in man. 



Inguinal Hernia. — Inguinal hernia is most commonly met 

 with amongst stallions and young animals. It consists of the 

 passage of a portion of intestine through the internal abdo- 

 minal ring, and into the inguinal canal. In all probability 

 this form of hernia is lar more frequent than it is generally 

 supposed to be, as it never interferes to any great extent 

 with the animal, unless becoming strangulated. Sometimes 

 the intestine passes down and becomes slightly strangulated, 

 producing colicky pains. The animal rolls, gets up, and is 

 all right — the intestine having returned to its place. Such 

 an occurrence being frequent, should lead the practitioner 

 to suspect the presence of hernia. It is, however, a some- 

 what difficult condition to diagnose, as there is no external 

 sign of the existence of a hernia of this description, and 

 the only way in which it can be detected is by a careful 

 and thorough examination of the parts. Castration tends 

 to prevent the occurrence of inguinal hernia, as then the 

 inguinal canal becomes smaller, the spermatic cord retracted, 

 etc. Hence it is of rare occurrence in the gelding, although 

 it may occur both in the gelding and mare. 



Scrotal Hernia. — Scrotal hernia is most common among 

 young animals, in which it is often congenital, being fre- 

 quently seen at birth, or soon after; in such cases the 

 condition generally ceases to exist when the animal has 

 attained the age of eight or nine months, and frequently 

 disappears within a much shorter period : hence it is better 

 to leave such cases alone so long as they cause no incon- 

 venience, and are likely to disappear of themselves. Scrotal 

 hernia may exist for a great length of time without causing 



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