DISEASES OF THE HOG. 75 



CHAPTER VIL 

 HERNIA. (RUPTURE.) 



Hernia is the rupture of the walls of any organ, 

 but is most frequently applied to a protrusion of 

 the bowel through an opening, whether natural or 

 artificial. Hernii are classified according to their 

 position. The ones most commonly found in the 

 pig are umbilical and scrotal hernia. The former 

 is not often seen in the pig and is usually congeni- 

 tal and makes its appearance at birth or if not 

 then, shortly after. It consists of a protrusion of 

 omentum or intestine through the umbilicus, and 

 is caused by a nonclosure of the navel opening. 



Symptoms: There will be a bunch at the navel 

 opening, soft to the touch and fluctuating, and if 

 pressed upon will pass into the opening, to return 

 as soon as the pressure is removed. It does not in- 

 convenience the animal as long as it does not be- 

 come strangulated, which it seldom does, and if 

 not increasing in size it is better not to meddle 

 with it, but if it is growing larger the sooner it is 

 reduced the better. I have seen cases in the pig in 

 which it became so large as to trail on the ground, 

 and such cases cannot be successfully treated. 



Treatment: Turn the animal on its back and 

 press the intestine in; when this is done pass a 



