QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 295 



Give the causes, symptoms and treatment of umbilic hernia. 



Causes: Failure of the umbilic ring in the abdominal floor to 

 close as it normally should. This condition is a congenital defect 

 which seems to be hereditary. Rarely is the defect acquired or 

 accidental. 



Symptoms : The presence of a reducible or irreducible, painless 

 tumor in the region of the navel, which may vary in size from that 

 of a hen's egg to a child's head, or larger. It is usually soft and 

 fluctuating and can be pushed through the circular or elliptical- 

 shaped opening in the abdominal floor, but immediately returns 

 when the pressure is released. If strangulation, which rarely occurs, 

 is present, the tumor may be irreducible. 



Treatment: Many plans have been tried, such as ligation, ban- 

 dages, trusses, topical applications, clamps and sutures, but the last 

 named has the preference. Small herniae often disappear spon- 

 taneously before the animal is three or four months old. Best plan 

 of treatment is to secure the patient on its back and give a general 

 ansesthetic; shave and disinfect the skin over the hernia; make an 

 incision through the hernial sac and expose the ring; bring the 

 margins of the ring together with strong, deeply-inserted sutures 

 of silk or catgut ; close the skin wound and apply an antiseptic pack 

 over wound, holding it in place with body bandage. Small herniae 

 may be sutured similarly without making an incision through the 

 skin, but by passing sutures through the whole sac near its base. 

 These sutures may be so arranged that the sac is ligated and 

 sloughed away. 



Give the causes, S5miptoms and treatment of inflammation of the um- 

 bilic cord (omphalophlebitis). 



Causes : Infection due to contact with soiled litter, faces, urine, 

 etc. Manipulations of the cord by laymen or others without observ- 

 ing aseptic precautions. Needless or faulty ligation of the cord. 

 Flies also carry infection. 



Symptoms: The disease, which occurs a few hours after birth, 

 may remain local (omphalitis) or extend to the umbilical vein 

 (omphalophlebitis) and result in septicopysemia. If local, swelling 

 and tenderness of the navel region are noted; a thin, watery, or 

 blood-tinged discharge which later contains pus exudes ; little or no 

 systemic disturbance is observed. Later, two to ten days, if the 

 inflammation extends to deeper parts, a sudden, severe, general 

 disturbance takes place ; this is manifested by fever, inappetency, 

 lameness due to septic arthritis, painful swellings about the articu- 

 Digitized by Microsoft® 



