66 DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 



stant pain, the animal lies down and rolls, as in 

 colic, but continuously. When inflammation sets 

 in in the part, the pulse becomes fast, the breath- 

 ing heavy, and the animal sighs. If the hernia is 

 discovered, it will be found to be enlarged, hot and 

 tender to the touch. It should be reduced if possi- 

 ble by turning the animal on its back or side, ac- 

 cording to the position of the hernia, and by care- 

 ful, steady pressure with the fingers on the tumors 

 it will sometimes pass in through the opening and 

 the animal is relieved. If this cannot be done, the 

 opening will require to be made larger with the 

 knife. This is done by cutting through the skin 

 at the side of the bunch, then feeling for the open- 

 ing with the fingers, pass the finger through the 

 opening at the side of the imprisoned gut, then 

 enter the knife alongside of the finger with the 

 cutting edge towards the muscle, then cut out- 

 wards large enough to allow the sack and its con- 

 tents to be returned. A knife with a probe point 

 is the safest. Then the best way of closing the 

 opening is by means of steel skewers passed 

 through the skin and flesh, about an inch back on 

 each side from the opening, using one, two or three 

 according to size of opening, and by putting a 

 cord around the ends of the skewer and pulling it 

 tight, will bring the edges of the opening together. 

 Then put a bandage around if it can be done. Let 

 the skewer remain in until the opening is closed. 

 My reason for using skewers when they can be 

 used is because thread or cat-gut will slough off 



