144 THE HOUSE AND ITS DISEASES. 



Stone in the Intestines. 



Horses that are subject to very frequent attacks of 

 colic pains, have usually stony masses in the coecum or 

 colon, sometimes they are some pounds weight ; th(3se 

 obstructing the passage of the gut, produce colic pains, 

 and at other times when exceedingly large, by pressing 

 upon the mucous membrane, produce inflammation. 

 Eut as yet, no distinctly marked symptoms have been 

 detected, by which their presence can be ascertained. 



Hernia, or Rupture. 



A portion of the gut protrudes from the abdominal 

 cavity through the abdominal ring into the scrotum, and 

 the opening is so narrow, that the gut, gradually 

 distended by foeces, or thickened by inflammation, can- 

 not be returned without the use of the hernia knife, 

 which must be used with caution. The following 

 is the proper way to perform the operation : — when the 

 gut falls into the scrotum, have the horse thrown on a 

 bed of straw, then put on his back, placing a bag stuffed 

 with straw at each side ; then open the scrotum, and 

 remove the testicle from that side of the scrotum in 

 which the hernia occurs, taking particular care not to 

 leave the knife touch the gut when opening the scrotum. 

 If you cannot return the gut through the same passage 

 it came from, set your knife so that you will be able to 

 know when you enter it through the ring, what portion 

 of that ring you will cut, taking care to face the knife 

 outwards towards the hip ; press on the spring, and you 

 will be able to cut the ring large enough to allow the gut 

 to return. The horse to have a mild purgative ball, 

 composed as follows : — 



Aloes 4 drachms. 



Calomel 1 ,, 



Tartar Emetic 1 ,, 



Nitre 3 ,, 



Castile Soap to make the hall. 



