RUPTURES. 161 



(4.) Ventral Rupture, — This is ^hen the bowel pro- 

 trudes through any part of the bellj, excepting at the um- 

 bilicus or navel, and not through any natural opening, and 

 is generally the result of injury or accident, as from a hook 

 from the horn of a cow, or the kick of a horse,^ The 

 common place where this kind of rupture is usually seen, 

 is on the lower portion of the belly, between the ribs and 

 at the flanks. 



Symptoms, — A large, pufiy swelling ; and by pressing 

 against it, it will lessen in size, by its being forced into 

 the cavity of the belly again; thie skin will be loose 

 when the bowel is thus pushed in. When the pressure has 

 ceased, the enlargement or swelling returns at once, and 

 fills up the loose skin. 



Treatment. — In most cases, let the enlargement alone ; 

 as, in the majority of cases, no inconvenience from it will 

 be experienced by the horse. The only way of reducing 

 such a rupture is, by gathering and holding the loose skin, 

 covering the rupture after the bowel has been pushed into 

 its place, by means of long clamps, like a long vise, till 

 the skin falls off. This cure is worse than the affection 

 it is intended to remedy ; for by breaking the skin the 

 bowels are exposed to the air, and the uncertainty of the 

 edges of the skin uniting firmly together. This is more 

 than can be expected, as the horse is not a rational being, 

 and cannot be told to stand this or that way, in this or 

 that position; and if he experiences any pain, he will be 

 restless, -—lay down, and rolh; and where are the nicely 

 adjusted clamps? — The horse is dead in a few hours. 



(5.) Rupture — Of Castration. — This variety of rup- 

 ture sometimes follows immediately, or a few days after 

 the operation of castration. 



Causes. — When the rupture occurs as soon as the horse 

 11 



