HBfiNIA.] 



THE HOESE, AND 



[hernia. 



Lock-jaw not unfrequently supervenes on 

 this operation in India, ia consequence of the 

 injury the nerve sustains, from the operator 

 pulling at the testicle too forcibly, as already 

 described. 



HERNIA, OR RUPTURE. 



Hernia, or rupture, is the displacement of a 

 portion of the abdominal contents, from the 

 cavity outwards, by some of the natural, or by 

 some artificial openings. The intestines are 

 by far the most common of the abdominal 

 viscera. Wlien such displacement occurs 

 through an oiiening, and the protruded part 

 can be readily returned, it is considered as 

 reducible hernia. If, on the other hand, the 

 opening is too small, of course it becomes 

 irreducible. If the mouth of the sac around 

 the intestine constricts, and produces inflam- 

 mation of the gut, it then forms what is called 

 strangulated hernia, and sometimes proves 

 fatal, unless relief be promptly obtained. 



From the position of the horse, stallions are 

 frequently affected with scrotal hernia, from 

 the scrotal cavity remaining open to the 

 abdomen, and the intestine descending ; but 

 this is not the case with geldings, for the 

 absorption which takes place after castration, 

 almost prevents the possibility of scrotal hernia. 

 In India, scrotal hernias are almost of daily 

 occurrence, especially with horses which have 

 violent action to perform, and are of a loose 

 weak nature. Castration is not general in 

 India ; and the relaxing state of the climate 

 may be considered to be the principal cause of 

 this, as the operation is attended, not only 

 with inconvenience, but great danger. 



Omental hernia is exceedingly common in 

 the East, where the operation of castration 

 having been performed on a horse, the omentum 

 protrudes of itself. The clams were put on, 

 and the finger introduced into the sac, which, 

 as far as it could be felt, was ripped ofi". The 

 horse did well afterwards. Accidents, violent 

 ♦ exertion, kicks, gores from neat cattle, may 

 produce ventral hernia in any part of the 

 Cfwity, and they will form a pouch or sac. 



Horses may die from strangulated hernia; 

 the death of which may be attributed to simple 

 ententes, or any other cause. There was, in 

 Devonport, a case of a black horse, which, on 

 being brought into stable, evinced symptoms of 

 244 



ententes. He was bled to about six quarts ; 

 ordered gruel with clysters, as if for enterltes. 

 Some hours afterwards it was found that 

 the horse was not better. Counter-irritatioa 

 was then prescribed, but to no efiect- The 

 horse died soon afterwards ; and on opening him, 

 a strong ligamentous cord, as tliick as a man'a 

 finger, was found inserted into the peritoneum, 

 and continued up to the mesentery, into which 

 it was equally firmly inserted. Now, by some 

 violent exertion in going on the roads of 

 Cornwall, where the horse was worked, the 

 intestines had been thrown over this cord, and 

 could not replace themselves. Strangulation 

 was the consequence, clearly showing that vio- 

 lent exertions produce the disease. — To return, 

 however, to our subject. 



Most cases of reducible hernia, originating 

 in accident to the walls of the abdomen, can 

 only be supported by a bandage ; the great 

 force of the abdominal muscles, and our in- 

 ability to keep the animal perfectly still while 

 the parts unite, preventing their permanent 

 reduction. 



With scrotal hernia, however, we have a 

 much greater advantage ; and although the 

 temporary reduction of the gut may be com- 

 monly aflected by the application of the texis, 

 or by pressure, we have performed this opera- 

 tion when the accident never occurred again. 



The symptoms whicli indicate scrotal hernia 

 appear in some of the actions of the animal. He 

 paws continually ; lies down, and as frequently 

 gets up ; sweats profusely about his loins and 

 quarters ; sometimes takes a roll ; but this ap- 

 pears to be done with sucli difliculty, that after 

 immediately doing so, he will jump up so sud- 

 denly, that it is difficult to get out of his way. 

 If the horse is an entire — for we have heard 

 writers talk of scrotal hernia in geldings, al- 

 though an instance never came under our notice 

 — examine well the scrotum, in reference to its 

 fulness and tensity. Being satisfied on this 

 point, have the horse's four legs secured, and 

 drawn by a rope until he completely lies on his 

 back. This being done, endeavour to return 

 the gut, by taking hold of the scrotum of the 

 diseased side, and pressing it back through 

 the fore finger and thumb. Should this not 

 be readily accomplished, recourse must be had 

 to the operation for hernia. When this is the 

 case, take the diseased sac into the left hand 



