DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 47 



pen when the calf is trying to suck a strange cow. After such an acci- 

 dent a swelling forms on the right flank near the last rib. This swelling 

 may be neither hot nor painful, even at first, and is soft to the touch. 

 It can be made to disappear by careful pressure when the sides of the 

 aperture through which it has passed can be felt. The application of 

 pressure so as to cause the disappearance of the hernia is best made 

 immediately after the occurrence of the accident, or when the oedema 

 which accompanies the swelling has disappeared. 



Treatment. "When a hernia is reducible that is, can be pushed back 

 into the abdomen then it is advisable to maintain it in its natural situ- 

 ation, and to allow the walls of the laceration to grow or adhere together. 

 In treating of this subject in a previous work I translated the directions 

 given by the late Henry Bouley, in a;i article on this subject contained 

 in the " Nouvean Dictionnairc de Me"decine et de Chirurgie Ye"t6rinaire, w 

 and as his directions are both concise and practical, I here reproduce 

 them : 



First prepare a bandage (must be of strong material) about 10 yards long and 

 between 3 and 4 inches broad, and a flexible and solid piece of pasteboard adapted 

 in size to the surface of the hernia. The protruding organ must then be replaced 

 iu the abdomen, and maintained in that position during the application of the 

 bandage. This being done, a layer of melted pitch and turpentine is quickly spread 

 on the skin covering the seat of the hernia, so as to extend somewhat beyond that 

 space. This adhesive layer is then covered with a layer of fine tow, then anew 

 layer of pitch and turpentine is spread on the tow, and the piece of pasteboard is 

 applied on the layer of pitch, its outer surface being covered with the same prep- 

 aration. Lastly, the bandage adhering to the piece of pasteboard, to the skin, and 

 to the different turns which it makes around the body, is carefully applied so as to 

 form an immovable, rigid, and solid bandage, which will retain tho hernia long 

 enough for tho wonnd iu the abdominal walls to heal permanently. 



In considering the point whether it is advisable to operate on a rup- 

 ture or not, we may here notice some of those conditions which will 

 have an unfavorable effect on the success of the operation. When the 

 opening through which the protruding organs have passed is very large, 

 the edges irregularly torn, and when the hernia has existed for a long 

 time, the size of the abdomen will be found to have diminished, and the 

 replacing and retention of the protruded parts will be attended with 

 difficulty. The stitches which bring the edges of the rupture together 

 in such cooes are apt to tear out, so such an operation is not advisable. 

 Small ruptures with smooth, regular edges heal with less difficulty, 

 llenihp situated on the under surface of the abdomen are more apt to 

 recur when they have been returned, and the wounds made in operating 

 on them are more difficult to heal than when the hernia is situated on 

 tho side. 



When the symptoms indicate that a hernia is strangulated, it is advis- 

 able to incise the sac and return tho hernia, enlarging the opening in 

 the abdominal muscles to the size necessary to return the protruding 

 organs, after which the wound in the abdominal muscles should bo 

 brought together by metallic or cat gut stitehes, and tlie v/oiunlin the skin 



