OPERATIONS FOR HERNIA. 373 



*' Treatise on Hernia," translated by Mr. Perclvall, in the Ve- 

 terinarian, and also in a very excellent paper read by Mr. 

 Simonds before the V. M. Association, and reported in the 12th 

 volume of the Veterinarian. 



Hernia sometimes becomes strangulated, in which case the 

 intestines are tightly pressed by the stricture ; and, if not 

 relieved by operation, mortification and death are sure to ensue. 

 Scrotal hernia is more likely to become strangulated than any 

 other, from the smallness of the opening through which the 

 gut escapes. From the general practice of castration in this 

 country, it is comparatively rare ; but in India, where it is 

 common to use entire horses, the disease is of frequent occur- 

 rence. Mr. Rogers, who has practised some years in India, 

 thus describes the symptoms and the operation in the 12th 

 volume of the Veterinarian : — "A horse is brought in from 

 the lines said to have gripes. If the case is recent, the pulse 

 may not be much affected, but the animal is very uneasy, looks 

 round at his flanks, and, if carefully noticed, it will be found 

 that he is gazing intently at the groin or scrotum. Small 

 quantities of dung are sometimes voided at intervals ; he lies 

 down, rolls on his back, gets up again, paws and stamps, 

 probably stales ; the testicles are evidently uneasy, and alter- 

 nately drawn up and relaxed ; the scrotum drips with sweat ; 

 the pulse becomes quick, small, and wiry ; the conjunctival 

 and Schneiderian membranes are highly injected ; the flanks 

 heave violently ; he groans, and shakes his head ; the counte- 

 nance assumes the look of horror, not diflScult to recognise as 

 indicating some terrible aftectlon, and the agony is sometimes 

 dreadful." He has heard a horse shriek out with agony. If 

 relief is not aflbrded, the horse breaks out in cold clammy 

 sweats ; the mouth becomes dry, the membranes congested ; he 

 throws himself down ; stretches his nose to the groin, at Avhich 

 he intently gazes ; allows his head to fall violently on the 

 ground; the muscles, particularly of the belly, are seized with 

 spasms, and death closes the miserable scene. When the mind 

 of the surgeon is made up, not a moment is to be lost; he 

 should at once proceed to operate. He should bleed to the full 

 extent, or until it caused the horse to sigh. The animal should 

 then be carefully thrown, and secured as for castration, the 

 hind leg or legs being drawn towards the collar, and the horse 

 on its back well secured in that position by bundles of straw. 

 The instruments which he uses are one or two scalpels, and 

 a bistouri cache, and others generally needed in castration. 

 Everything being in readiness, the operator places himself on 

 his knees in the rear of the horse, and commences an examina- 

 tion externally and by the rectum, by which means he is 

 generally able to ascertain the nature of the hernia. He then 



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