VENTRAL HERNIiE. 



295 



left side and behind the ribs. The term, rupture, can there- 

 fore be appropriately applied to a ventral hernia. The sac of 

 the tumour usually is formed of skin and the sheet of muscle 

 (panniculus) by which the horse is able to twitch off flies and 

 other objects that happen to alight on his shoulders and sides. 

 These tumours as a rule are caused by internal injuries, and in 

 straining when foaling. They sometimes attain to the size of a 

 man's head or even larger. They rarely become strangulated, and 



Fig. 114. — Truss for umbilical hernia. 



consequently seldom interfere with the usefulness of the animal 

 unless when Avounded. Usually they had best be left alone. Their 

 treatment is similar to that of umbilical hernia (p. 294). 



Other Forms of Hernia. 



The horse is liable to other forms of hernia (crural, diaphrag- 

 matic and pelvic), which are so rare, or so little amenable to treat- 

 ment, that they need not be considered here. 



