UMBILICAL HERNIA 391 



food that is hard to digest, or has a tendency to cause flatulence or to con- 

 stipate. If it becomes necessary to remove the hernia, either from size or 

 strangulation, herniotomy should be performed with the animal under an 

 anajsthetic, and operated on as already described (see Herniotomy). 



Sarcocele. — This is a collective name for all kinds of tumors of the 

 testicles, especially for sarcoma, carcinoma, enchondroma, and cysts. 

 The testicles are swollen, the swelling, as a rule, being hard, tough, and 

 sometimes fluctuating; never warm or very painful. The condition 

 can only he remedied by castration. 



Hydrocele. — By this we define an accumulation of fluid (serum) in 

 the scrotum. The affection is often associated with oedema of the lower 

 extremities and of the scrotum. It is frequently seen with ascites, 

 hydrothorax, etc., appearing in the shape of a fluctuating swelling of 

 the testicular pouch, Avhich disappears when the animals lie on their backs. 



Therapeutic Treatment. — This consists of puncture and emptying 

 of the sac, also injection with any of the following stimulating fluids; 

 alcohol, Lugol's solution, carbolic acid (1 to 40), etc. Of course, these 

 are only to be used when castration is not performed. 



A variety of hydrocele is seen where we have oedema of the spermatic 

 cord. This appears as a fluctuating swelling which may be easily moved 

 from one side to the other. It occupies the whole length of the spermatic 

 cord, and, as a rule, is never interfered with. When the fluid of the 

 hydrocele, which is discharged by puncture, consists of bloody serum, 

 we call it haemorrhagic hernia, or hsematocele. Any other complications 

 of the testicles and their membranes may be found on page 208. 



Umbilical Hernia. 



{Hernia U»ibiliculiti). 



The hernia ring is formed by the umbilical ring. The contents 

 may consist of the omentum, duodenum, and in rare cases of the large 

 intestine. In the hereditary form the intestines are located in the 

 umbilical cord, and are not covered by the abdominal membrane (hernia 

 of the umbilical cord). In accidental hernia of the uml:)ilicus, we always 

 have a hernial pouch, originating from the peritoneum. As a rule, 

 umbilical hernia occurs a few days after birth. It may increase gradually 

 and beeome eventually strangulated, but it often disappears without any 

 surgical interference. Hernia of the omentum we see occasionally, but 

 generally it cures itself by an adhesion between the hernial pouch and 

 the hernial ring. Umbilical hernia is easily recognized (Fig. 129). We 

 find a swelling under the umbilical ring, which may vary in size from a 

 hazelnut to a walnut. 



Therapeutics. — Treatment consists, as a rule, in very young animals, 



