602 HERXLE, ETC. 



three weeks in tliis state, when I was requested to examine her 

 — about the 6th of January. I found the opening nearly large 

 enough to admit my four fingers, and it had a very unhealthy 

 appearance. The discharge of pulpy and watery food was great, 

 and the smell very offensive; so much so, that it was with 

 difficulty any person could be found to attend her. The pulse 

 was between 50 and 60, and the appetite tolerably good." — The 

 mare being with foal, and an old favourite besides, her owner 

 was very desirous to have something done. There were two 

 favourable circumstances — the length of time since the injury, 

 and the absence of inflammation. — " Having cleaned the wound," 

 says Mr. Karkeek, " I closed the opening with a strong suture 

 of pack-thread, with a common packing needle, taking in as 

 much of the integuments and abdominal muscles as possible. 

 I then applied a pledget of tow soaked in a solution of chloride 

 of lime, and supported the whole by means of a thick woollen 

 bandage laced along the spine. I ordered the wound to be 

 cleansed and the solution to be applied every morning, and her 

 head to be tied to the rack to prevent her lying down. About 

 five weeks afterwards, being in the neighbourhood, I called to 

 inquire after my patient, when to my surprise I found her alive 

 and well, the wound having completely healed. Had this case 

 happened nearer my residence, I should have endeavoured to 

 have instituted some experiments with regard to the process of 

 digestion on different kinds of food ; and this, I believe, might 

 have been done without endangering the life of the animal, as 

 there was a copious discharge of food for three weeks previous 

 to my attending the mare." 



Professor Simonds relates a case of extensive ventral hernia 

 in the Veterinarian for 1839, to which the reader may refer. 

 The result was most successful ; but as a rule it is safer not to 

 treat this form of hernia otherwise than by a compress and sus- 

 pensory bandage, that can be tightened at pleasure, as there is 

 great danger of sloughing of the skin, and consequent protrusion 

 of the intestine. 



INGUINAL HERNIA. 



Inguinal hernia, or bubonocele, almost always makes its ap- 

 pearance suddenly, and hastens to become strangulated. The 



