412 OPEKATIOKS ON THE DIGESTIVE APPAKATUS. 



Among the varieties belonging to the latter category may be 

 named: the laceration of the superior opening of the testicular 

 sheath; the collection of serosity in the sac (hydrocele); the sar- 

 comatous transformation of the testicle where the hernia exists 

 (sarcocele); the adhesion of the intestines to the walls of the sac 

 (u-reducible hernia) ; with obstruction and strangulation. 



Although their causes belong to the Hst which we have already 

 considered, there is still a sort of latent difference observable in 

 the effects to which they severally give rise, as evidenced by the 

 slowness and tardiness of their matmity. They often appear, also, 

 as a sort of relapse or reactionary sequelae (recicUve of the French) 

 of acute hernia improperly reduced, or as a consequence of the ab- 

 noi-maUy dilated condition of the upper ring, while this constitutes 

 a predisposing cause. But this same condition of dilatation may 

 be congenital, and in animals wdth a jiredisiDOsing conformation 

 chronic hernia of the intermittent kind is of easy occurrence. 

 Whatever may be their mode of formation, however, they are gen- 

 erally of long standing, and readily diagnosticated by their positive 

 and familiar characters. 



Chi'onic hernias are generally of larger dimensions than the 

 acute, and when exclusively vaginal, filling the cavity of the scro- 

 tum and forming a true oscheocele. If the laceration of the supe- 

 rior opening of the canal has allowed the formation of a sac and of 

 an adjunct tumor, in front and outside of the cord, the hernial tu- 

 mor will then consist of two lobes, the smaller situated in the depth 

 of the groin, under the ventral walls, and the larger occupying the 

 scrotal sac. 



These hernial tumors are usually formed by the small intestines 

 and the floating colon, in exceptional cases, by the pelvic curva- 

 ture of the colon as well. They vary also in volume as well as in 

 consistency, from an obvious cause ; enlarging after meals, to con- 

 tract again when the abdomen is empty ; and again, giving various 

 impressions under the hand, according as their contents are gas- 

 eous, liquid or soUd. In the first condition, when the intestines 

 are empty and the animal is at rest, the tumor is soft, supple, elas- 

 tic and more or less reducible, but when the animal is in action it 

 increases in bulk, and becomes more tense and elastic, and less 

 easy of reduction. There is therefore a condition of intermittency 

 in their character, which is due to the pecuHar conditions in which 

 the animal may be placed. The form of these tumors corresponds 



