552 INGUINAL HERNIA IN RUMINANTS. 



in intra-abdominal pressure, or from violent movement. Hildach 

 saw this form of hernia suddenly occur after the animal had been 

 ridden. 



Prognosis is even less favourable than in true inguinal hernia, 

 the danger of incarceration being greater, and recovery attended 

 with more difficulty, because the tunica vaginalis cannot be drawn 

 forward to effect closure of the hernial opening. 



Treatment. Where strangulation has not set in, operation should 

 be avoided. Reduction of incarcerated hernia may be attempted 

 in the standing position, but usually fails, even when assisted from 

 within by a hand introduced into the rectum. But under no circum- 

 stances should operation be attempted until every effort to effect 

 reduction by taxis has failed. For this purpose the same measures 

 may be adopted (casting, dorsal position, narcosis) as in true inguinal 

 hernia. Should herniotomy prove absolutely necessary, the scrotum 

 is cautiously opened under antiseptic precautions. After dividing 

 the skin and tunica dartos, the hernial contents appear, and must 

 be protected from soiling by cloths dipped in disinfecting fluids. 

 The hernial opening is then sought for with the index finger, which 

 is guided by the hernial contents, and should it prove impossible 

 to dilate the aperture with the finger, and return the intestine to the 

 abdominal cavity, the opening must be widened with a herniotome, 

 after which taxis becomes easy. An attempt may then be made to 

 close the opening in the abdominal wall with sutures of sterilised 

 silk. The wound of the scrotum is closed with button sutures cleansed 

 and covered with a dressing of iodoform and tannin. Lund operated 

 on an interstitial inguinal hernia with success ; but Hering noted 

 prolapse of the bowel, and death after operation. 



(3.) INGUINAL HERNIA IN RUMINANTS. 



Inguinal hernia is rare in ruminants, and only a few recorded 

 cases exist. Youatt saw it in a steer, Loble in an ox, Hess in a calf, 

 Rychner in a cow, Lafosse in a male goat, and Lenguenard in a lamb. 



The symptoms and course of the disease are similar to those 

 in horses, though the condition is far less grave than in the latter 

 —the value of the animal not being diminished to the same extent, 

 and it being possible, even where the hernia has become incarcerated, 

 to slaughter without very great loss. 



Treatment is much as above described. Should the hernia become 

 strangulated, Loble's method of operating through the right flank 

 may be tried. He thrust the ox against a wall, cut through the skin 



