538 TREATMENT OF UMBILICAL HERNIA. 



by various observations : Degive operates in this way, and Wiesner 

 and others have reported cases, though it is clear that healing is 

 not so simple as in Siedamgrotzky's method. Frohner operated 

 under strict antisepsis, sutured the abdominal wound, and effected 

 healing by first intention in ten days. 



Should the hernia be adherent, which is not uncommon after 

 the use of acids or other irritants, it is better to limit the opening 

 in the peritoneal cavity. Degive proceeds as follows : — 'The hernial 

 sac is opened under antiseptic precautions and the peritoneum cut 

 through only far enough to admit the finger, so as to separate the 

 adherent portions ; scissors may also be used. The sac is after- 

 wards ligatured in sections, as above described. (For another method 

 see section on " Ventral Hernia.") The cutting operation is not 

 suitable in large hernia?, especially if the rupture be circular, because 

 of the difficulty in uniting the edges of the ring ; in such cases it 

 is better to transfix the hernial sac with stout needles or skewers, 

 and apply a ligature between the needles and abdominal wall, or to 

 use irritants supplemented by bandages. 



The animal should be prepared for operation by reducing the 

 diet, giving easily digestible and concentrated food, and administering 

 a purgative to empty the bowel. Similar dietetic precautions should 

 be continued for some days after operation. 



In small animals (dogs) irritants cannot be employed on account 

 of their being licked off. Operative interference is here easier, but 

 it must not be forgotten that many animals will not endure bandages, 

 clams, threads, &c, but will at once tear them off. In the dog the 

 radical operation under anaesthesia is preferable ; and to keep the 

 patient quiet for 24 hours a strong dose of morphine should be given 

 after operation. 



VII.— INGUINAL HERNIA, SCROTAL HERNIA (HERNIA INGUINALIS, 

 HERNIA SCROTALIS). 



Passage of abdominal contents, bowel, omentum, or both, through 

 the inner abdominal ring into the vaginal sac constitutes inguinal 

 hernia. Should the viscus attain the scrotum, the condition is termed 

 scrotal hernia. The horizontal position of the body in domestic 

 animals is less favourable to the production of inguinal hernia than 

 the upright one in man. It occurs in horses and pigs, seldom in 

 ruminants and dogs, and the sac usually contains intestine, less 

 frequently omentum. As inguinal hernia exhibits certain peculiarities 

 in the different classes of animals, it will be considered separately 

 in each. 



