HERNIA. 



340 



HEENIA. 



By the terra licniia surgeons understand a rupture, or protru- 

 Bion of some of the viscera out of the abdomen, forming a soft 

 tumor. Tu human practice there are hernias occurring in all 

 the viscera of the body ; but in the equine race they are confined, 

 with rare exceptions, to the abdominal viscera, the inguinal 

 hernia being the most common. This appears in the groin, and 

 is a protrusion of the intestine through the abdominal ring, 

 which in the stallion frequently passes down into the scrotum, or 

 bag, constituting scrotal hernia. These hernias sometimes occur 

 during castration in consequence of the violent struggles of the 

 animal. In such cases it is best to administer chloroform at once 

 in order to quiet the animal and prevent violent strugglings. The 

 animal should be put upon his back, and one hand passed up the 

 rectum, and one or two fingers of the other placed upon the 

 scrotum, when by careful manipulations the intestine can gene- 

 rally be replaced. If, however, a reduc- , ^_ ^ _ 



tion cannot be efi'ected, an operation will ^TO^ -^ 



be n ecessary. 



The hernia should 



be exposed by 



cutting through ^ 



the integument a pi 



little npon one J 



side, and coming 



down upon the 



hernia, the finger 



is placed upon it, 



and a reduction efi'ected by careful manipulation. Care should 



be taken that the nails upon the hand are trimmed close, in 



GOOD FOB HEAVr DRAFTS. 



