40 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



takes place in an advanced stage of pregnancy, causing a thinning 

 and stretching of the muscular fibers, which at last may rupture, or 

 give way. Such hernias frequently occur about the end of the period 

 of gestation, and in some instances have contained the right sac of 

 the rumen, the omentum, the small and large intestines, a portion of 

 the liver, and the pregnant uterus. 



In old hernias the swelling is soft and elastic, and if they have not 

 contracted adhesions to the sides of the laceration, they can be made 

 to disappear by pressure carefully applied. Sometimes this accident 

 is complicated by a rupture of the rumen, constituting a complicated 

 hernia. If a portion of the contents of the rumen escape into the 

 abdomen, the case will be aggi-avated by the occurrence of j^eritonitis. 



Hernia or the bowel. — When the intestines (PI. Ill, fig. 6) form 

 the contents of the herniaj it will be situated at the right side of the 

 abdomen. In an intestinal hernia the swelling is usually not painful, 

 of a doughy consistence or elastic, according as the intestine does or 

 does not contain alimentary matter. This swelling can generally be 

 made to disappear by pressure, and Avhen it has been reduced one 

 can easily recognize the direction and extent of the hernial opening. 

 Hernias of the bowel which are situated at the upper and right side 

 of the abdomen are usually formed by the small intestine. They are 

 less easily reduced than a hernia in a lower situation, but when 

 reduction has been eflfected they are less readily reproduced than 

 those occurring lower. In hernias of the small intestine, adhesion of 

 the protruding parts to the walls of the opening, or strangulation, 

 are complications which sometimes take place. If adhesion has taken 

 place the hernia can not be reduced by pressure, and when strangu- 

 lation has occurred the animal shows symptoms of pain — is restless, 

 turns its nose to the painful part, and shows those symptoms which 

 are usually collectively designated under the term colic. If relief is 

 not afforded, the animal will die. 



Hernia or the rennet, or fofrth stomach.— This disease occa- 

 sionally occurs in calves and is usually caused by a blow from a cow's 

 horn on the right flank of the calf. After such an accident a swell- 

 ing 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 aper- 

 ture 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 edema 

 which accompanies the swelling has disappeared. 



Treatment. — W[\^n a hernia is reducible — ^that is, can be pushed 

 back into the abdomen — then, if it is of recent occurrence, it is advis- 

 able to maintain the natural position of the parts by bandaging and 

 to allow the walls of the laceration to grow together. The bowels 



