1050 Veterinary Obstetrics 



ring chiefly in pigs, is recognized by the firm, irreducible 

 tumor, unaccompanied by inflammation or pain. 



Prognosis. The prognosis of umbilic hernia is favorable. 

 Many cases, especially small herniae in foals, recover spontane- 

 ously, and the others may be surgically overcome with compara- 

 tive certainty and safety. If left undisturbed, umbilic hernise 

 rarely become incarcerated or otherwise interfere with the well- 

 being of the animal. If the hernial ring is small, when the 

 animal develops and the intestines increase in size, they can not 

 pass through the opening. If the hernial contents consist of omen- 

 tum, when the animal grows older, the omental expanse becomes 

 comparatively retracted and no longer reaches the open umbilic 

 ring. Although the ring may persist throughout the life of the 

 animal, the hernial sac no longer becomes filled and is not notice- 

 able. The greatest loss attributable to the defect, is the de- 

 creased value of pedigreed animals for breeding purposes, because 

 of the well-marked tendency to transmission. 



Treatment. Umbilic herniae in young animals disappear 

 spontaneously so often that, in all cases where the hernial ring 

 is very small, an opportunity should be given for a spontaneous 

 recovery. However, when the hernial ring is large, such a re- 

 sult cannot be reasonably anticipated, and it becomes desirable to 

 use some means for overcoming the defect, except in those 

 cases where the animals are intended for early slaughter, where 

 handling may well be ignored in most instances. Before under- 

 taking any operative treatment, it is desirable that the young 

 animal shall have acquired some age and considerable vigor. It 

 is generally preferable to postpone a radical operation until the 

 animal is two to four months of age. However, it .should not be 

 too long delayed, because as the animal grows larger it is some- 

 what more difficult to handle. When fatalities from an opera- 

 tion occur, the loss becomes greater to the owner in proportion to 

 the age of the animal. The chief plans of handling include : 



a. Bandages. Many writers have advised the application of 

 a bandage or truss for the cure of umbilic hernia, apparently 

 somewhat in imitation of the human surgeon. For this purpose 

 a wide girth or surcingle is applied about the body, over the 

 umbilic ring, and maintained in position by straps or bands. In 

 a general way these bandages are similar to the Sohnle appara- 

 tus, Fig. 149, page 1019. One or more straps pass forward 



