51 



Congenital scrotal hernia. — Not a few foals are noticed from birth to 

 have an euhirged scrotum, which gradnally increases in size up to about 

 the sixth mouth, sometimes longer. In some instances I have noticed 

 the scrotum of a six-months old colt to be as large as that of an adult 

 stallion, and have been repeatedly asked to prescribe treatment for it. 

 This is entirely unnecesary in ninety-nine out of every hundred cases, 

 as this enlargement entirely disappears by the time the colt has reached 

 his second year. Any interference, medicinal or surgical, is worse than 

 useless. If the intestine contained within the scrotum should at any 

 time become strangulated, it must then be treated the same as in an 

 adult horse. 



Scrotalhernia is caused by dilatation of the sheath of the testicle, com- 

 bined with relaxation of the fibrous tissue surrounding the inguinal ring, 

 thus allowing the intestine to descend to the scrotum. At first this is in- 

 termittent, appearing during work and returning when the horse is at 

 rest. For a long time this form of hernia may not cause the least uneasi- 

 ness or distress. In course of time, however, the imprisoned gut becomes 

 filled with feces, its return into the abdominal cavity is prevented, and 

 it soon becomes strangulated. While the gut is thus filling the horse 

 often appears dull, is disinclined to move, appetite is impaired, and there 

 is rumbling and obstruction of the bowels. Colicky symptoms now 

 supervene. I do not wish to imply that strangulation and its conse- 

 quent train of symptoms always follows in scrotal hernia, as I know of an 

 old horse where the scrotum, by weight of the contained gut, forms a 

 pendulous tumor reaching half way to the hock, and yet he has never 

 experienced any serious inconvenience. 



Inguinal hernia is but an incomi)lete scrotal hernia, and, like the lat- 

 ter, may exist and cause no signs of distress, or again it may become 

 strangulated and cause the death of the animal. Inguinal hernia is seen 

 mostly in stallions, next in geldings, and very rarely in the mare. Bear- 

 ing in mind that scrotal hernia is seen only in horses, we can proceed to 

 detail the symptoms of both strangulated, inguinal, and scrotal hernia 

 at the same time. When, during the existence of colicky symptoms, 

 we find a horse kicking with his hind feet while standing, or lying upon 

 his back, we should look to the inguinal region and scrotum. If scro- 

 tal hernia exists the scrotum will be enlarged and lobulated; by press- 

 ure we may force a i)ortion of the contents of the gut back into the 

 abdomen, eliciting a gurgling sound. If we take a gentle but firm hold 

 upon the enlarged scrotum and then have an assistant cause the horse 

 to cough, the swelling will be felt to expand and as quickly contract 

 again. 



The history of these cases will materially aid us, as the owner can 

 often assure us of preceding attacks of "colic," more or less severe, 

 that have been instantaneously relieved in some (to him) unaccounta- 

 ble manner. The colicky symptoms of these hernial are not diagnostic, 

 but, probably, more closely resemble those of enteritis than any other 



