1052 Veterinary Obstetrics 



dominal viscera do not bear upon the part. When the hernial 

 ring is very large, hope of a cure, through the agency of a band- 

 age, is virtually excluded from the first. 



b. Topical applications have been used for decades, for the 

 cure of umbilic hernia. Various substances have been used for 

 this purpose, among which may be prominently mentioned the 

 application of the mineral acids, either sulphuric or nitric. The 

 intent is to cause dry gangrene of the skin and hernial sac by the 

 application of the acid thereto ; and, by causing an intense local 

 inflammation with much swelling, to induce closure of the hernial 

 ring. For this purpose, sulphuric or nitric acid is applied over 

 the hernial .sac, by means of a glass rod, until the skin has been 

 well saturated and an extensive necrosis of the tissues is assured. 

 Prior to the application of the acid to the skin, the hernial sac 

 may be shaved or clipped. The acid needs be applied quite lib- 

 erally, in order that the death of the skin shall be complete and 

 the resulting swelling extensive ; otherwise a cure is not certain, 

 or even probable. I^afosse recommends the use of 24 to 32 

 grammes of nitric acid, applied over the whole surface of the 

 hernial sac, followed by friction, to be continued for three to 

 five minutes. The nitric acid usually needs be applied but once 

 in order to produce the desired result, but, if the first application 

 fails, it may be reapplied in about 15 days. 



Zundel highly recommends this plan, although he admits that 

 it is sometimes followed by accidents, the most serious of which 

 is an extensive sloughing of the hernial walls, which finally in- 

 volves the peritoneum and permits the intestines to become pro- 

 lapsed through the opening. Reynal has seen peritonitis follow- 

 ing nitric acid cauterization, and Lafosse has observed tetanus as 

 a result. Hertwig prefers sulphuric to nitric acid, and applies it 

 in lines with a glass rod, twice daily until four applications are 

 made. He sometimes added an application of turpentine and oil 

 to the part, in order to increase the amount of swelling and edema. 



Other irritants have been used and recommended in the treat- 

 ment of this defect. Like the mineral acids, they are intended 

 to induce an intense local inflammation and swelling, by which 

 means it is hoped to block up the open umbilic ring. Blisters of 

 various kinds act in this way. Some veterinarians have prac- 

 ticed hypodermic injections into the walls of the hernial sac, 

 near to the hernial ring, of irritants of various kinds, such as 



