DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 49 



larger and do not pass so readily through a small opening, so that from 

 a combination of causes there is a gradual growing together or adhesion 

 of the sides of the navel. In cases of umbilical hernia where there are 

 no indications that a spontaneous cure will take place, the calf should 

 be laid on its back, and immediately on this being done the hernia will 

 often disappear into the abdomen. If it does not its reduction may be 

 brought about by gentle handling, endeavoring, if need be, to empty 

 the organs forming the hernia before returning them into the abdomen. 

 After the hernia has been returned the hair should be clipped from the 

 skin covering it and a compress composed of ten or twelve folds of 

 linen or cotton should be applied, first smearing the skin with pitch 

 and then a bandage of about 3 inches wide should be passed round the 

 body so as to retain the compress in position. The lower part of the 

 compress should be smeared with pitch, and also those portions of the 

 bandage which pass over it, so as to keep it solid and prevent it from 

 shifting. In some cases it will be found that the contents of the sac 

 can not be returned into the abdomen, and this generally arises from 

 the fact that some part of the contents of the sac has grown to or 

 become adherent to the edges of the umbilical opening. In such a case 

 the skin must be carefully laid open in the long direction, the adhesions 

 of the protruding organs carefully separated from the umbilicus, and 

 after the protruding parts have been returned into the abdomen the 

 Bides of the umbilicus must be freshened if necessary by paring, and 

 then the edges of the opening brought together by catgut stitches ; the 

 wound in the skin must then also be brought together by stitches. The 

 wounl must be carefully dressed every day and a bandage passed 

 round the body so as to cover and protect the part operated on. 



In small hernia nitric acid has been used successfully in the same 

 manner as has been described in speaking of the treatment of ventral 

 hernia. Sulphuric acid has also been used for a similar purpose, dilut- 

 ing it to the extent of one part of acid to three or five of water. In 

 thin-skinned animals the weaker preparations ought to be preferred, 

 and caution must be exercised in using such preparations so as not to 

 destroy the tissues on which they are applied. 



Another method of treatment is, after the contents of the sac have 

 been returned into the abdomen, to tie a piece of strong waxed cord 

 round the pendulous portion which formed the outer covering of the 

 hernia. The string is apt to slacken after two or three days, when a 

 new piece of cord should be applied above the first one. The constric- 

 tion of the skin seta up Inflammation, which generally extends to the 

 umbilicus and causes the edges to adhere together, and by the time 

 the portion of skin below the ligature has lost its vitality and dropped 

 off, the umbilicus is closed and there is no danger of the abdominal 

 organs protruding through it. This is what takes place when this 

 method has a favorable result, though if the umbilicus docs not become 

 adherent and the skin sloughs, the bowels will protrude through the 

 opening. 



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