DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 39 



be replaced in the abdomen and maintained in that position during the applica- 

 tion of the bandage. This being done, a layer of melted pitch and turpentine 

 is quickly spread on the skin covering the seat of the hernia, so as to extend 

 somewhat beyond that space. This adhesive layer is then covered with a layer 

 of fine tow, then a new layer of pitch and turpentine is spread on the tow, and 

 the piece of pasteboard is applied on the layer of picch, its outer surface being 

 covered with the same preparation. Lastly, the bandage, adhering to the piece 

 of pasteboard, to the skin, and to the different turns which it makes around the 

 body, is carefully applied so as to form an immovable, rigid, and solid bandage, 

 which will retain the hernia long enough for the wound in the abdominal walls 

 to heal permanently. 



If the hernia is old and small it may be treated by injecting a 

 strong solution of common salt about the edges of the tear. This 

 causes swelling and inflammation, which, respectively, forces the pro- 

 truded organ back and closes the opening. There is some risk 

 attached to this method of treatment. 



In small, old, ventral hernias the method of compressing and 

 sloughing off the skin has been used successfully. If the hernia is 

 large a radical operation will be necessary, and this is also true when 

 the symptoms indicate that a hernia is strangulated. This operation 

 is performed by cutting down on the hernia, restoring the organ to 

 the abdominal cavity, and then closing the wound with two sets of 

 stitches; the inner stitches, in the muscular wall, should be made 

 with catgut and the outer stitches, in the skin, may be made with silk 

 or silver wire. The strictest surgical cleanliness must be observed. 

 Bleeding vessels should be tied. Then a compress composed of ten 

 or twelve folds of cloth must be placed smoothly over the seat of 

 injury and a bandage applied around the body, the two ends being 

 fastened at the back. In the smaller kinds of hernia, nitric acid may 

 sometunes be applied with success. This treatment should not be 

 applied until the swelling and inflammation attending the appearance 

 of the hernia have subsided ; then, the contents of the hernia having 

 been returned, the surface of skin corresponding to it is sponged over 

 with a solution composed of 1 part of nitric acid to 2 of water. 

 This treatment acts by exciting considerable inflammation, which 

 has the effect of causing swelling, and thus frequently closing the 

 hernial opening and preventing the contents of the sac from return- 

 ing. A second application should not be made until the inflammation 

 excited by the first has subsided. In what is termed spontaneous 

 hernia it is useless to apply any kind of treatment. 



Umbilical hernia. — The umbilicus, or navel, is the aperture 

 through which the blood vessels pass from the mother to the fetus, 

 and naturally the sides of this aperture ought to adhere or unite after 

 birth. In very young animals, and sometimes in newborn calves, 

 this aperture in the abdominal muscles remains open and a part of 

 the bowel or a portion of the mesentery may slip through the open- 



