53 



abdomen. Pressure should be made upon the scrotum during this 

 time. I once succeeded in reducing a strangulated scrotal hernia, 

 after having cast the animal, l)y keeping a bag of cracked ice ui3on 

 the scrotum, thus condensing the imprisoned gases and causing con- 

 traction of the swelling. If these means fail a veterinarian must be 

 called to reduce the hernia by means of incising the inguinal ring, 

 replacing the intestines, and castrate, using clamps and performing 

 the "covered operation." 



Ventral hernia. — In this form of hernia the protrusion is through 

 some accidental ox)ening or rujiture of some of the abdominal coats or 

 coverings. It may occur at any part of the belly except at the umbili- 

 cus, and is caused by kicks, blows, hooks, severe jumping or pulling, 

 etc. Ventral hernia is most common in i^regnant mares, and is here 

 due to the weight of the foetus or some degenerative changes taking 

 place in the abdominal coats. It is recognized by the appearance of 

 a swelling, at the base of which can be felt the opening or rent in the 

 abdominal tunics, and from the fact that the swelling containing the 

 intestines can be made to disappear when the animal is placed in a 

 favorable position. 



Treatment. — In many instances there is no occasion for treatment, 

 and again, where the hernial sac is extensive, treatment is of no avail. 

 If the hernia is small we may attempt a cure by the methods to be 

 described in treating of umliilical hernia. If we are fortunate enough 

 to be jiresent when the hernia occurs, and particularly if it is not too 

 large, we may, by the j)roper application of a i)ad and broad bandage, 

 effect a perfect cure. 



Umjjilical hernia is the passing of any portion of the bowel or omen- 

 tum through the navel, forming a "tumor" at this jioint. This is 

 often congenital in our animals, and is due to the imperfect closure 

 of the umbilicus and to the ijosition of the body. Many cases of 

 umbilical hernia, like inguinal and scrotal of the congenital kind, dis- 

 appear entirely by the time the animal reaches its second or third 

 year. Advancing age favors cure in these cases from the fact that 

 the omentum (swinging suj)port of tlie bowels) is proportionally shorter 

 in adults than in foals, thus lifting the intestines out of the hernial 

 sac and allowing the opening in the walls to close. Probably one of 

 the most fre(|uent causes of umbilical hernia in foals is the practice 

 of keeping tliem too long from their dams, causing them to fret and 

 worry, and to neigh or cry by the hour. The contraction of the abdom- 

 inat muscles and pressure of the intestines during neighing seem to 

 open the umbilicus and induce hernia. Accidents may cause umbil- 

 ical hernia in adults in the same manner as ventral hernia is produced, 

 though this is very rare. 



Treatment. — The treatment of umbilical hernia varies much with 

 different practitioners. We should remember the fact that congenital 

 hernise are often removed with age, but probabh^ congenital umbilical 



