INGUINAL HEENIA. 307 



which the spermatic duct passes from the testicle into the 

 pelvis. It is an accident which continental veterinarians and 

 practitioners in India meet with more frequently than we do 

 in Great Britain, from the fact that stallions are not often 

 used for working purposes in this country. 



Symptoms. Whenever a stallion is affected with symptoms 

 of intestinal obstruction and severe colic, already noticed in 

 describing the latter affection, it is the duty of the veterinary 

 surgeon to cause a discharge of contents of the rectum by an 

 injection, and then pass his hand into the intestine and feel 

 the internal abdominal ring. The imprisoned intestine will 

 easily be felt, should inguinal hernia exist. Extraction of 

 the testicle on the side affected, cold sweats about the scrotum 

 and thighs, looking anxiously round to the flank on the side 

 affected, are all symptoms which aid in diagnosis. 



Treatment. By manipulation the incarcerated intestine 

 is pushed back, and if not, the inguinal canal has to be 

 opened by a small incision, and the reduction of the hernia 

 affected through it. 



SCEOTAL HEENIA. 



The inguinal canal soon becomes dilated in young animals, 

 when intestine or omentum has passed into it. The scrotum 

 then becomes the hernial sac, a circumstance which is not 

 possible in man, from the complete separation between the 

 peritoneal cavity and tunica vaginalis. As the two serous 

 membranes remain continuous in the lower animals through- 

 out the whole lifetime, part of the abdominal contents may 

 pass into the cavity containing the testicle. 



Symptoms. In many cases, and especially in coits, calves, 

 young pigs, &c., it is only when they are to be castrated that 

 the lesion is discovered. The covered operation of castration 

 has then to be performed. Fig. 107 shows the anatomical 



