THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 281 



older and the abdominal rings grow smaller, and the in- 

 guinal canal is occupied by the spermatic cord after descent 

 of the testis. It is sometimes seen in adults, and is apt 

 to become strangulated. It is by far more frequent in 

 bulls than in castrated males. 



Treatment. — In cases of strangulation, attempts may be 

 made by taxis (manipulative means) to remove the im- 

 prisoned portion of bowel, traction being applied by the 

 hand in the rectum. This means failing, and it seldom i? 

 successful, the animal must be cast and placed on his back 

 to facilitate the gradual return by direct and special mani- 

 pulation. If this succeeds the animal, if a bull, should 

 then be castrated by the covered operation. But if the 

 hernia is irreducible the constricting portion must be 

 divided with a bistoury, as described in works on the 

 Surgery of the Horse (especially ^ Williams^ Surgery^). 

 Youatt mentions ^' a species of rupture, very difficult to be 

 treated, and occurs in cows in an advanced stage of preg- 

 nancy. An excessive accumulation of fluid has take place 

 in the womb or calf bed, and the tendinous expansion of 

 the muscles which support the lower part of the belly has 

 given way. The farmer says that the ' rim of the cow's 

 belly is ruptured ; ' a portion of the womb escapes through 

 the opening and descends into the groin or seems to occupy 

 the udder. Mr. Allison, of Idle, relates a case (' Yeteri- 

 narian,' 1831, p. 555) in which the head of the calf had 

 been forced down into the groin. The calf was extracted 

 with no great difficulty, but the bowels then descended 

 through the rupture into the place that had been occupied 

 by the foetus and the animal was irrecoverably lost." 



Pelvic Hernia. — '^Gut-tie/' ^^ Bound/' is a form of dis- 

 placement of the bowel which is seen in certain districts, and 

 is most frequent in mountainous countries ; thus it is preva- 

 lent in Switzerland. Among English counties, Hereford, 

 Northampton, and Lincolnshire afford the greater number 

 of these. It is seen only in bullocks and most frequently 

 about the second or third year. 



Symptoms. — Colicky pains, often of a very acute char- 

 acter, so that the animal alternately arches and curves 



