SURGICAL DISEASES IO3 



The open operation is sometimes performed. The 

 rupture is reduced in the usual way. An incision is 

 then made the same as in castration and the testicle 

 removed. To close the inguinal canal, a number of 

 stitches are taken across the external opening. In 

 addition, the scrotum is sometimes packed with some 

 sort of material and the incision closed with sutures. 

 Precautions should be taken against, germ infection. 

 This operation is more difficult and less satisfactory 

 than the covered operation. 



VENTRAL HERNIA 



Scrotal and umbilical hernias are due to the dila- 

 tion of openings already present. All other forms 

 caused by a break or tear in the abdominal walls, but 

 not in the skin, are called ventral hernise. 



Ventral hernia is caused by injuries to and pres- 

 sure on the abdominal walls. It may occur as a re- 

 sult of kicks and collisions with blunt objects. Tear- 

 ing and stretching of the tissues may also occur when 

 hogs crowd one another and pile up around straw 

 stacks, and in their sleeping quarters. A weak, de- 

 bilitated condition predisposes them to this class of 

 injuries. 



The appearance and character of the swelling is 

 much the same as in other ruptures. The size varies 

 greatly. When the injury is caused by a kick or 

 collision, a local inflammation is present. As ventral 

 hernia is commonly caused by crowding and squeez- 

 ing, a common seat is on the inside of the flank, the 

 swelling extending backward between the thighs and 



