52 



bowel diseases. Cold sweats, particularly of the scrotum and thighs, are 

 held by some writers to be j)atboguomonic. 



The diagnosis can, in many cases, only be made by a veterinarian, 

 when he has recourse to a rectal examination; the bowels can here be 

 felt entering the internal abdominal ring. If the reader can be sure of 

 the existence of these hernioe, he should secure the horse upon its back, 

 and, with a hand in the rectum, endeavor to catch hold of the wander- 

 ing bowel and pull it gently back into the cavity of the abdomen. Press- 

 ure should be made upon the scrotum during this time. I once suc- 

 ceeded in reducing a strangulated scrotal hernia, after having cast the 

 animal, by keeping a bag of cracked ice upon the scrotum, thus con- 

 densing the imprisoned gases and causing contraction of the swelling. 

 If these means fail a veterinarian must be called to reduce the hernia 

 by means of incising the inguinal ring, rej)lacing the intestines, and 

 castrate, using clamps and performing the " covered operation." 



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

 some accidental opening or rupture 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 pregnant 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 de- 

 scribed in treating of umbilical hernia. If we are fortunate enough to 

 be present when the hernia, occurs, and particularly if it is not too large, 

 we may, by the proper application of a pad and broad bandage, effect 

 a perfect cure. 



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

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

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

 umbilicus and to the position of the body. Many cases of umbilical 

 hernia, like inguinal and scrotal of the congenital kind, disappear 

 entirely by the time the animal reaches its second or third year. Ad- 

 vancing age favors cure in these cases from the fact that the omentum 

 (swinging support of the 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 

 frequent causes of umbilical hernia in foals is the practice of keeping 

 them too long from their dams, causing them to fret and worry, and 

 bo neigh or cry by the hour. The coutractiou of the abdominal muscles 



