37 



eflfects upon small hernial tnmours in other situations. The ointment 

 is made bv mixing one part of the neutral chromate of potash with 

 two and a half parts of lard. It should be appUed with friction all 

 over and around the enlargement, and be repeated on the following 

 or second day. Much swelling is said to follow the employment of 

 the ointment ; and when it subsides the hernia is found to be 

 cured- This and other stimulating compounds will be restricted 

 to the treatment of those comparatively unimportant cases of 

 disease where the tumour is small and easily reducible. When 

 hernia is irreducible — that is to say, when the portion of the intes- 

 tine cannot be returned to the abdominal ca"rity through the open- 

 ing which exists in the walls, in consequence of the smallness of the 

 wound or the existence of adhesions — an operation will be necessary 

 to effect the reduction. 



'• Strangulated hernia is indicated by very marked symptoms of 

 abdominal pain ; the animal appears to be suffering from spasmodic 

 colic, and expresses his uneasiness by lying down, rising again, and 

 sometimes struggling and rolling during a paroxysm. The surface of 

 the body is covered with perspiration, the pulse is full and quick, 

 the nostrils dilated, respiration accelerated, and all the signs which 

 mark violent internal pain are present. 



*•' Seldom will there be any difficulty in detecting strangulated hernia 

 if a proper examination is made ; the mere fact of hernia existing 

 should be in itself suggestive of the possibility of the accident ; and 

 when an animal known to be the subject of rupture is observed to 

 suffer abdominal pain attention should at once be directed to the 

 hernial tumour, and if this is found to be tense, glossy in appearance, 

 and painful to the touch, it will be tolerably evident that the intes- 

 tine has become strangulated. Alteration lq the temperature of the 

 tumour will always be noticed when strangulation has occurred ; 

 while the inflammation is active the tumour will be hot, but as soon 

 as inflammation has given place to mortification or death of the part 

 the temperature falls, and the enlargement is distinguished by the 

 cold clammy feel, which is not likely to be misunderstood. In the 

 early stage of strangulation there is a possibility of dealing vrith it 

 successfully, but when the surface of the enlargement has become 

 cold, and the signs of abdominal pain have ceased, no treatment is 

 likely to be of use. 



•'■' Umbilical hernia is frequently present in foals and calves, and 

 although the enlargement in many instances may be small and pro- 

 ductive of no inconvenience at the time, it often increases very 

 rapidly, in consequence of the protrusion of a large portion of 



