100 DISEASES OF SWINE 



cord causes the tissues to swell and close the open- 

 ing. As the blood supply to the sack is cut off, the 

 part sloughs away in a short time. 



The simple ligature, as above described, answers 

 very well for a .small rupture, but in case the swelling 

 is large a multiple ligature must be used. The pro- 

 cedure differs slightly when this is used. The sack 

 and the skin in the region of the sack are first washed 

 with a disinfectant. The instruments needed for the 

 operation are a strong curved needle and a pair of 

 scissors. The needle carrying the heavy linen thread 

 or ligature that has been lying in the disinfectant 

 solution, is passed through the base of the sack close 

 to the belly, the thread is then divided and each half 

 is tied separately, or, one half of the thread is cut 

 close to the needle, and the needle carrying the other 

 half again passed through the sack a short distance 

 from the part included in the -first ligature. This is 

 repeated until the necessary number of stitches have 

 been taken. The ends of the stitches are then tied. 

 The assistant should pull slightly on the hernial sack, 

 so as to enable the operator to place the stitches close 

 to the opening. 



In case of adhesions between the contents and wall 

 of the sack, as may occur in hernia of long standing, 

 it cannot be reduced in the usual way. In such cases, 

 it is necessary to cut through the walls of the sack 

 and break down the adhesions with the fingers. The 

 opening is then closed by stitching across it from 

 margain to margin. The parts and the instruments 

 used in the operation must be carefully disinfected. 



