36 



GRIPES. 



Administer one ounce each of tincture of opium and nitric ether, 

 with a pint of warm water, to be repeated in an hour if necessary. 



HERNIA. 



An able correspondent of the Field thus writes : " Of the several 

 forms of hernia the most frequent are ventral hernia and um- 

 bilical, the first being the result of an injury which may be 

 inflicted at any period in the animal's life, and the second the con- 

 sequence of protrusion of the intestine through the natural opening. 

 Ventral hernia arises from blows from blunt instruments. A thrust 

 from the horn of an ox, violent exertion in the hunting-field, 

 falls on the road while in harness, struggles during operations, 

 and violent efforts to rise after a fall, are among the causes of 

 ventral and also of inguinal hernia. The first indication of the 

 accident will be the appearance of a soft swelling at the point of 

 injury, and this on examination will be found to possess the 

 characters of a hernial tumour ; it will generally be free from 

 excess of heat, and the animal will give no sign of suffering while 

 it is being manipulated, unless there should happen to be inflamma- 

 tion from the recent hurt, or the intestine has become strangulated. 

 The discovery of the opening in the walls of the abdomen, and the 

 reduction of the hernia by pressing the intestine back into the 

 cavity, will be positive evidence of the character of the enlargement. 



" Treatment of ventral hernia must be regulated by the extent of 

 the rupture of the abdominal walls, the position of the tumour, and 

 the date of the injury. If the case is recent, the opening in the 

 walls of the cavity small, and the position of the injury favourable 

 to the application of a bandage or compress, pressure may be 

 employed with good effect. A firm pad of leather properly stuffed 

 with tow or wadding must be adapted to the part, and retained in 

 the proper position by means of a bandage, which may be fastened 

 by lacing in such a way that it can be tightened when necessary 

 without being removed or displaced. Adhesive plasters may in 

 some cases succeed, but it is difficult to obtain the requisite degree 

 of pressure. Stimulating applications to the integument are recom- 

 mended for the purpose of causing effusion beneath the integu- 

 ment, and thus establishing a temporary compress, which may be 

 continued as long as required by a repetition of the dressing. An 

 ointment composed of neutral chromate of potash is said by M. Foelen, 

 a Belgian veterinary surgeon, to be very effective in the treatment 

 of umbilical hernia ; and if so, it might be equally beneficial in its 



