SURGICAL DISEASES lOI 



as there is danger of introducing germs into the ab- 

 dominal cavity and causing the hog to die of peri- 

 tonitis. The after treatment consists in keeping the 

 pig in a separajte pen, away from the other hogs, and 

 washing the part once a day for a few days with a 

 disinfectant in order to promote heaHng. 



SCROTAL OR INGUINAL HERNIA 



Scrotal hernia occurs in the male, the intestines 

 passing through the wide inguinal canal together 

 with the cord of the testicle and become lodged in 

 the' scrotum. It is not difficult to recognize this form 

 of rupture, as the' enlargement of the scrotum is 

 usually quite noticeable. It is sometimes so large that 

 it drags on the ground. These large ruptures occur 

 when the inguinal canal is wide and roomy, and when 

 both sides of the scrotum contain intestines or the 

 rupture is a double one. The nature of the swelling 

 or enlargement can be readily recognized by raising 

 the hind parts of the pig, when the intestines will 

 gravitate back into the abdominal cavity, but as soon 

 as the pig regains its feet, they again return to the 

 scrotum. The testicles can be felt toward the bot- 

 tom of the enlargement. 



This condition is more apt to occur when a large 

 number of hogs are allowed to run together, if they 

 crowd one another in narrow doorways and at the 

 feed trough, or pile up in their sleeping quarters. 

 The canal is so roomy and loose that it is uncommon 

 for the intestines to become pressed on in such a way 

 as to become strangulated. . However, the thriftiness 



