726 DISEASES AND ABNORMALITIES. 



development of the caeco-colic mass, which occupies its place. In this 

 manner, the natural changes occurring in the digestive apparatus may 

 bring about a spontaneous cure of the hernia. 



It may be, therefore, advantageous to wait for some time before resort- 

 ing to treatment : allowing the young animals good tonic food, in small 

 quantity at a time, to prevent undue development of the abdomen after 

 weaning, and bathing the tumor with cold water or some mild astringent 

 lotion. 



When treatment has to be resorted to, it is generally recognized that, 

 for the foal and calf, autumn is the best season, as the animal is older and 

 stronger, and less likely to suffer from the necessary operations. The 

 methods of treatment comprise (i) bandaging, (2) topical applications, (3) 

 constriction^ (4) operations for complications. 



I. Bandages. — A truss or retaining bandage for the cure of umbilical 

 hernia, consists essentially of a wide girth or roller placed around the 

 body, and by the aid of which there is maintained over the tumor, and 

 against the umbilical opening, a pad intended to prevent the viscera from 

 again descending, when the hernia has been reduced. By this means 



Fig. 2 10. 

 Armatage's Truss applied for Umbilical Hernia. 



temporary mechanical occlusion of the opening is obtained, until the 

 physiological and permanent closure of the latter can be effected, and its 

 borders are firmly united. 



There are various bandages which may be usefully employed with this 

 object — the chief desideratum being sufficient solidity, simplicity, fixity, 

 and ease for the animal. Marlot has proposed a truss, for which he claims 

 solidity, fixity, and elasticity. This consists of a kind of well-stuffed sad- 

 dle, from the four corners of which pass leather straps, which are buckled 

 to two girths — one of which is of canvas webbing, and passes round the 

 chest ; the other, of india-rubber webbing, goes round the belly, and main- 

 tains a pad against the umbilicus. This pad is a wide, but not very thick, 

 cushion stuffed with horse-hair, and which a broad longitudinal band 

 uniting the pectoral and abdominal girths prevents from slipping back- 

 wards. In Italy, the Massiera truss is employed. This is also a kind of 

 smajl saddle with two wide girths passing under the chest, and pressing 

 against the sternum and epigastrium a plate of iron, the posterior ex- 

 tremity of which, corresponding to the umbilical ring, and covered by a 

 leather cushion stuffed with -horse-hair, is applied to the seat of hernia. 



