404 RUPTURE, OR INTESTINAL HERNIA. 



mentary fits of relaxation ; towards the last the pulse is 

 quick and wiry ; the horse paws, looks at his flanks, but 

 seldom kicks at his belly. We assure ourselves of hernia 

 by an oblong tumour in the groin, of larger or smaller 

 bulk ; hard or soft, as it may contain either feeces or gas, in 

 which latter case it will also be elastic. When the tumour 

 is raised by the hand, or pressed, a gurgling sound is 

 emitted ; or if the horse be coughed, it will be sensibly 

 increased in dimensions. 



The treatment of strangulated hernia. — The horse suffering 

 under the affection we will suppose to be a stallion, and then 

 describe the various manipulations for his relief: firstly, 

 the examination into the state of the hernia ; secondly, the 

 application of means preparatory to the application of pres- 

 sure ; thirdly, the application of pressure itself ; also, the 

 operation of removing the stricture ; and, likewise, the ap- 

 plication of the various processes to hernia in the horse. 



The treatment of hernia in a stallion. — First, the examina- 

 tion of the hernial sac. In this manipulation both hands 

 are employed ; one is introduced into the rectum, the other 

 into the sheath. The one within the rectum must seek 

 the internal ring ; while the other, pursuing the course of 

 the cord on the side affected, is to be pushed up to the 

 external ring ; and thus, in the natural state, the opposed 

 fingers may be made nearly to meet, and so estimate the 

 size of the opening. However small the protruded portion 

 of gut, the practitioner will be able to detect, and even to 

 reduce it. This exploration may he made in the standing 

 posture ; hut it will he conducted with more facility and cer- 

 tainty if the animal he cast, which is the preferahle mode of 

 proceeding . 



Secondly, the application of means preparatory to the 

 taxis : these are said to be bleeding, and partially paralysing 

 the parts by administration of chloroform ; or lessening the 

 volume of distention by dashing the part with cold water ; or, 

 if the horse be already cast, by spreading ice over the belly. 



Thirdly, the manual efforts to return the displaced gut. 

 To fulfil this indication, we are, with the same hope, 

 at once to proceed thus. The horse is to be thrown upon 

 the opposite side to that disordered ; and after one hind leg 

 has been drawn and fixed forward, as for castration, he is to 



