540 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OP THE OX. 



proper containing cavity. The varieties of rupture are acute or 

 sudden, and chronic or congenital. Chronic rupture is con- 

 genital, the young animal being thus affected at its birth. 



The form of rupture to which we first draw attention is 

 called umbilical. In this condition the bowel has protruded 

 through the navel, forming a tumour of varying size at this spot, 

 and one often meets with it in newly-born calves. Rupture of 

 this kind is easily cured. The young animal is cast on its back, 

 the prolapsed bowel is pressed back into the abdomen, the loose 

 skin is then brought together, and round it is drawn tightly a 

 piece of stout cord. The skin, thus deprived by the ligature of 

 any blood supply, sloughs off, while the raw sore soon heals and 

 a permanent cure is made. 



The second form of rupture, to which we call attention, is 

 termed ventral hernia, by which term we mean the protrusion 

 of the intestine througli the abdominal walls at other parts than 

 at the navel. This form of rupture, as might be expected, is 

 unfortunately not very uncommon, resulting as it generally does 

 from injuries, such as blows, &c., on the belly. 



Many of these cases are unfortunately beyond our power to 

 cure, excepting where the tumour formed is not very large, and 

 is not situated in the most dependent part of the abdomen. In 

 the cow it is not advisable to attempt any means of curing 

 ventral hernia, or *' broken body " as the affection is commonly 

 called; for it is far preferable to have her fed up and slaughtered. 

 As a rule, an animal with ventral hernia shows no sign of 

 uneasiness, excepting shortly after the infliction of the injury 

 which has severed the muscles of the body. 



If the tumour be not very large, in which case only treatment is 

 of any use, and it be desirable to operate, the animal is prepared 

 several days beforehand by being fed upon a most restricted 

 diet and the administration of a dose of physic. On the day 

 previous to the operation, no food is allowed. After the animal 

 is cast, and chloroform duly administered, the skin over the 

 rupture is divided from one end to the other. The edges of the 

 divided muscles are then brought into view ; these are brought 

 together and secured by means of stitches of stout silk, and then 

 the edges of the skin are similarly brought together and stitched. 

 A portion of tenax, or tow saturated with carbolic acid lotion 

 (one part of carbolic acid to thirty of water) is placed over the 



