388 HERNIAL RUPTURE 



portion of the intestine passing from the abdominal cavity into the 

 inguinal canal. If this is the case in the dog, and the loop of the intestine 

 goes as far as the scrotum, we call it scrotal hernia. If it simply lies in 

 the canal, it is called inguinal hernia. 



Clinical Symptoms of Inguinal and Scrotal Hernia in the Male Dog. 



This condition is very rare in the male; most cases are congenital; 

 the contents are generally small intestine and omentum. In an ordinary 

 case of inguinal hernia, we must understand that from the external 

 abdominal ring as far as the scrotum the canal is almost cylindrical, 

 and we find tnat when this canal is filled either with a loop of 

 small intestine or omentum it has a peculiar elastic softness and 

 "doughy" feel under the skin. There is generally no local increase 

 of temperature. In large hernias we may reduce this partially or alto- 

 gether by placing the animal on its back and holding up the hind 

 quarters and gently pressing or rul^bing with the finger upon the hernial 

 swelling. If the intestine has entered the scrotum (Fig. 126) , the affected 

 side appears full and large, and may be reduced by the manipvdations 

 indicated above. In hernias of this character the testicle is apt not to 

 descend into the scrotum, and is soft, immature, and can be distinguished 

 in the canal. The abdominal ring is found to be larger than natural. 

 In cases of strangulation the symptoms which have been descril^ed before 

 become apparent, and, if the symptoms are very acute and all attempts 

 at reduction are futile, we must perform the operation of castration. 



Castration of the Male. — In normal conditions — that is to say, when 

 no hernia is present — castration of the dog must be performed by laying 

 the animal on his side, rendering all the parts aseptic, and holding the 

 skin tightly over the testicle, compressing it between the finger and 

 thumb. Then make an incision the entire length of the scrotum, cutting 

 through the scrotum, the tunica dartos, and tunica vaginalis, so that 

 the testicle is exposed (compare with Fig. 127). 



The testicle is drawn out and then the common intersecting membrane 

 is opened up as far as possible by means of a pair of scissors; then place 

 a strong silk suture around the seminal cord, close up to the inguinal 

 ring, and ligate it. "When this is done, the seminal cord, with all the 

 superfluous portions of the interstitial membrane, is amputated aliout 1 

 cm. below the ligature. The other testicle must be removed in the same 

 manner. After carefully cleansing the wound with a strong non-irritant 

 disinfectant, the wound of the scrotum has to be closed Avith an ordinary 

 stitch, and it is advisal)le to place a small drain, like a silk thread, into 

 one of the corners of the wound. No dressing is recjuired provided the 

 animal is muzzled. Ilealing occurs generally within a few days. If, 

 however, we have a case in which we wish to operate for inguinal or 



