THE DISEASES OF CATTLE. 243 



ing to allow the escape of discharge at the bottom of the sac. I 

 saw her daily for a week, and prescribed according to the state 

 in which 1 found her. On the whole, her health proved good, 

 and her wounds healed pleasantly. She was fourteen years old, 

 and, like most cows, had a large belly. She fattened well, and 

 was sold for the shambles in April. The butcher told the farmer 

 that he found a large abscess in her side when he cut her up." 



The following case of ventral hernia is from the London 

 Veterinarian^ by G. Lewis : - — 



"In September last, I was requested to examine a heifer, 

 which was said to have a ' swelling on her right side.' 



"I found her with a pendulous bag, hanging very low on the 

 right flank, and of an immense size. Upon a close examina- 

 tion of the parts, I ascertained that the enlargement was pro- 

 duced by an escape of the intestines through a rent in the 

 abdominal muscles. I informed the owner that nothing short 

 of an operation could be productive of benefit to the animal, 

 and I also pointed out to him the nature of the case, and its 

 probable results. 



" According to the arrangement, the heifer was sent to me 

 on September 6th, when, after due preparation by medicine, 

 etc., I had her cast and secured, and then carefully made an 

 opening through the skin and panniculus muscle, immediately 

 over the laceration in the other muscles, but a little longer 

 than it. I thus exposed the rent which existed in the external 

 and also the internal oblique. The edges of the aperture were 

 very uneven and much thickened ; and I may state in this 

 place, that the enlargement had been observed a month prior to 

 this date. A large portion of the intestines were found to 

 have escaped into the sac formed by the panniculus and common 

 integument ; besides which, a considerable quantity of serous 

 fluid existed beneath the skin, and externally to the panniculus, 

 which had doubtless been thrown out by the injured vessels. 



"The intestines being returned into the abdominal cavity, 

 the edges of the laceration were brought together with strong 

 metallic sutures, and properly secured. The external wound 

 was then closed ; and before allowing the animal to rise, I 



