TREATMENT OF UMBILICAL HERNIA. 5.'J:{ 



the owner, but be used by the practitioner himself. The irritant 

 effect is sometimes too great, and, owing to excessive swelling and 

 tension, the skin tears through or becomes necrotic before union 

 has taken place at the neck of the hernial sac. Prolapse of the bowel 

 then occurs, as noted by Weber in foals and Roche-Lubin in dogs. 

 The thinner the sac and the skin covering it, the greater the care 

 required in applying concentrated acids. Duriaux and Cagny 

 recommended sinapisms instead of acids, stating that mustard 

 produces the same effect as acids, but is less dangerous. Acids are 

 useful for this purpose, because they do not soften the structure 

 of the skin like alkalies, but give a firm scab. Nitric acid produces 

 a stronger effect than sulphuric, and is, therefore, more painful and 

 dangerous, while chromic acid and bichromate of potash (1 to 3) 

 often affect deep-seated structures too much. The swelling which 

 appears is the best guide, and immediately it seems sufficient, further 

 application should be avoided. 



The actual cautery has been recommended with the same object, 

 and is applied in the form of lines. In France and Belgium bandages 

 and blistering ointments have been simultaneously used, but this 

 " mixed " method is not commendable. 



For the horse Degive recommends a bandage which carries a 

 plate of tinned iron, 14 inches long and 4 broad, formed to respond 

 to the lower surface of the belly, upon which it is fastened by two 

 rollers. The plate has a rounded prominence about 2 inches high 

 on the side next the abdomen, which fits into the hernial ring and 

 keeps back the contents. This truss is worn for four to eight days, 

 when swelling of the ring occurs, and it may be removed to see 

 whether the hernia returns. Should this happen, the parts can 

 either be dressed all over with diluted nitric acid or be fired, after 

 which a second bandage is applied, whose girth carries a similar 

 plate 14 inches long and 9 inches broad, covered with a tarred linen 

 compress. Three days later the parts may be blistered with can- 

 tharides oil to assist the separation of the eschar, which is said to 

 occur eight days afterwards. The girth is then loosened a little and 

 reapplied, after smearing the rupture with tar. Martin states having 

 cured umbilical hernise in this way within twenty days. 



Without doubt the pressure of the bandage on the inflamed hernial 

 sac assists its contraction and the return of the contents, but necrosis 

 of the sac is apt to occur, and the truss must, therefore, be frequently 

 examined. 



Imminger recommends injecting subcutaneously 1 to 1£ ounces 

 of a 15 per cent, salt solution about an inch in front of, and also 



