252 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



nally the calf may take 5 grains quinin twice daily and 15 gi-ains 

 hyposulphite of soda, or 20 grains salicylate of soda three times 

 a day. 



UMBILICAL HERNIA (BREACH AT THE NAVEL). 



This may exist at birth from imperfect closure of the muscles 

 around the opening; it may even extend backward for a distance, 

 from the two sides failing to come together. Apart from this, the 

 trouble rarely appears after the calf has been some time on solid 

 feed, as the paunch then extends down to the right immediately 

 over the navel, and thus forms an internal pad, preventing the 

 protrusion of intestine. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of umbilical hernia are a soft swelling 

 at the navel, with contents that usually gurgle on handling, and can 

 be entirely returned into the abdomen by pressure. The diseases of 

 the navel hitherto considered have no gurgling contents and can 

 not be completely returned into the abdomen. The only exception 

 in the case of the hernia is when the walls of the sac have become 

 greatly thickened. These will, of course, remain as a swelling after 

 the bowel has been returned; and when the protruding bowel has 

 contracted permanent adhesion to the sac, it is impossible to return 

 it fully without first severing that connection. 



Treatm^ent. — Treatment is not always necessary. A small hernia, 

 like an %gg^ in a new-born calf, usiuilly recovers of itself as the 

 animal changes its diet to solid feed and has the paunch fully 

 developed as an internal pad. 



In other cases apply a leather pad 8 inches square attached around 

 the body by two elastic bands connected with its four corners, and 

 an elastic band passing from its front border to a collar encircling 

 the neck, and two other elastic bands from the neck collar along the 

 two sides of the body to the two bands passing up over the back. 

 (PI. XXIV, fig. 6.) 



For small hernias nitric acid may be used to destroy the skin and 

 cause such swelling as to close the orifice before the skin is sepa- 

 rated. For a mass like a large goose egg one-half ounce of the acid 

 may be rubbed in for three minutes. No more must be applied for 

 15 days. For large masses this is inapplicable, and with too much 

 loss of skin the orifice may fail to close and the bowels may escape. 



The application of a clamp like those used in castration is a most 

 effective method, but great care must be taken to see that all the 

 contents of the sac are returned so that none may be inclosed in the 

 clamp. (PI. XXIV. fig. 7.) 



Another most effective resort is to make a saturated solution of com- 

 mon salt, filter and boil it, and when cool inject under the skin (not 

 into the sac) on each side of the hernia a dram of the fluid. A band- 



