392 The Management and Diseases of the Dog. 



Treatment. — This is exceedingly simple, and invariably 

 successful. As soon as the animal is weaned,* being 

 placed on his back, a conical-shaped portion of cork, with 

 a broad base, covered or not with calico or wash-leather, 

 should be applied to the protrusion, and secured there 

 with strips of pitch-plaster. 



If the hernia is allowed to go on until puppyhood is past, 

 more diiiRculty will be experienced in dealing with it, and 

 the chances of success will be rendered less certain. 



On the 2Sth of June, 1877, a young pug dog, fourteen 

 weeks old, was brought for my advice regarding a navel 

 enlargement, which I pronounced to be hernia, and most 

 probably intestinal; but I could detect no communication 

 between the protruded portion, whatever it was, and the in- 

 testine within the abdomen, nor could any manipulation 

 reduce it. Fasting made no difference in its appearance or 

 feel, nor yet did a full meal. The enlargement was very 

 much constricted at its base, and gave one the idea of an 

 empty portion of intestine or bladder inflated and tied 

 firmly round. To ascertain its true nature before resorting 

 to any operation for its removal (after fasting the animal). 

 I explored it with a suture needle ; but neither blood, 

 serum, nor any other kind of fluid, nor yet did collapse, 

 follow the puncture. The owner then acting on my 

 advice, chloroform was administered to the patient, and an 

 incision made through the skin with a lancet, for the pur- 

 pose of removing the protrusion by ligature, should it 

 prove to be omentum or obliterated intestine ; or if both, 

 and the latter was not obliterated, return it and close the 

 aperture with suture. 



It was found to be the former, and removed accordingly ; 

 a couple of stitches being inserted through the lips of the 

 divided integument and the ends of the ligature left out. 



* Any appliance before weaning would most likely be temoved by 

 the mother's teeth. 



