276 BOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



writers^ and the ox, of all animals, is least liable to be 

 seriously affected by it. The operation should be per- 

 formed on the right side opposite the seat of incision in 

 ruminotomy ; and similar measures taken for closure 

 of the wound, and after treatment. Pedunculated fatty 

 tumours hanging from the outer surface of the intestine 

 may be twisted round the bowel. These are enlarged 

 apendices epiploicae. Most often the volvulus is the 

 result of violent struggles during abdominal pain. 



Hernia is protrusion of an organ from its natural cavity 

 either into another cavity of the body or into an accidental 

 pouch. Abdominal herniae are the most frequent in the ox, 

 as in other animals. They may be congenital, present at 

 birth, or acquired, when they appear suddenly later in life. 

 Are reducihle or irreducihle as the organ can or cannot be 

 returned to its proper place ; strangulated when it is sub- 

 jected to pressure, and so becomes disordered ; and recur- 

 rent when, having been returned, the part again becomes 

 displaced. According to the nature of the contents the 

 hernia is a gastrocele, enter ocele, epiplocele, cystocele ; the 

 stomach, bowels, omentum, bladder, respectively being dis- 

 placed. The opening through which the herniated viscus 

 passes varies in position, and thus we have the ventral, in- 

 guinal and scrotal, umbilical, mesenteric, and phrenic forms. 

 Sometinies this is anatural opening, sometimes the result of 

 giving way of the tissues in consequence of injury. The 

 parietal layer of the peritoneum is forced out before the 

 viscus, forms the serous sac of the hernia, and becomes 

 vascular, thickened, and subsequently indurated. It fre- 

 quently contracts adhesions with the peritoneal coat of the 

 viscus. In the ventral and umbilical forms the skin yields to 

 gradual pressure, and thus seems too large after reduction 

 of the hernia. In chronic cases the passage through which 

 the organ passes becomes thickened and rounded at the 

 margins, and assumes a circular figure. Peristalsis of the 

 viscus may force more of it into the hernia sac, or the impri- 

 soned part may become overladen with contents, or there 

 may be swelling of the neck of the tumour. Either of these 

 conditions leads to strangulation, whereby the imprisoned 



