VET^TRAL HERNIA. 399 



with the fingers, distinctly traced. These signs, however, are 

 on occasions, as observed by Hurtrel d^Arboval, marked by 

 accompanying effusion into the surrounding cellular tissue : 

 at least, when that exists. 



Neither pain nor inconvenience, nor, in fact, ill con- 

 sequences of any sort, commonly result from ventral hernise. 

 Horses having them do their work and maintain their health 

 quite as well as others ; nor does general experience war- 

 rant us in assigning other danger to them than such as may 

 arise from their liability to external injury, particularly from 

 the spur of the rider. I have seen hunters so affected, and 

 apparently nothing lessened in intrinsic worth by it. I 

 have known troop-horses similarly ruptured, which have, 

 without any surgical aid whatever, done their duty to the 

 last, without experiencing any sensible alteration in the 

 tumour itself, or the remotest sign of colic or abdominal 

 disease of any kind, during their lifetime. Notwithstand- 

 ing, however, this general exemption from inconvenience 

 even, much more from pain or danger, still cases may and 

 do occur in which from the volume, or situation, or nature 

 of the hernia, or from its liability to become strangulated, 

 it may be not only advisable but incumbent upon us to per- 

 form some operation, or, at least, to take some measures to- 

 wards keeping the hernia permanently reduced. 



The Contents of the Tumour usually consist of a 

 knuckle of intestine : the omentum being too short to be- 

 come protruded, unless it be dragged posteriorly towards 

 the ribs. Ordinarily, I believe ventral hernise possess no 

 proper sac, the peritoneum becoming ruptured by the blow 

 which produces the eventration : indeed, in most instances, 

 their only covering appears to be the common integuments. 



Treatment. — In the generality of cases there is no 

 necessity or call whatever for adopting any kind of treat- 

 ment. Still, it is right we should be acquainted with 

 what we have it in our power to do in a case of need or 

 desirableness ; for, as I said before, now and then a case 

 presents itself requiring remedy. Providing the accident 

 be recent, the subject young, and the bieach but small. 



