374 Veterinary Medicine. 



When the orifice is somewhat larger a portion of small intestine 

 or of the double colon or caecum may be engaged, while with a 

 still larger opening the stomach, spleen, or liver may form the 

 hernia. In cattle the reticulum is most likely to be the hernial 

 mass, as noted in an article below. In rare cases the small in- 

 testine, omentum or liver protrude (Youatt, L,afosse). The 

 protruding organ is liable to be constricted and strangulated 

 sooner or later by increase in its bulk in connection with its ver- 

 micular movements, the accumulation of its contents or the ex- 

 trication of gas in its lumen, or by the gradual contraction of the 

 orifices in process of healing. Then there may be dark red venous 

 congestions, blood extravasation and effusion, friability and even 

 rupture of the intestinal walls, and adhesions to the wound or 

 the lungs. Once started this congestion and extravasation may. 

 extend backward into the abdominal cavity involving a great 

 part of the contiguous intestinal canal. 



Prognosis. The worst cases are promptly fatal, while others 

 destroy life in one or two days and such are always to be recog- 

 nized by the extreme dyspnoea which appears soon after the ac- 

 cident. The slight cases with small orifice and little protrusion 

 may merge into the chronic form, and the animal may even be 

 fit for work, notwithstanding existing dyspnoea, which closely 

 resembles that of chronic emphysema (heaves), but is not bene- 

 fited by the same treatment. In the ruminants even considerable 

 lacerations and protrusions may not be incompatible with fatten- 

 ing provided the animal is kept from all causes of excitement or 

 over-exertion. 



Treatment. Surgical treatment has not proved successful. 

 Expectant and medicinal treatment are the only available resorts 

 and then only in the slighter cases. Quiet and the absence of all 

 excitement is the first consideration, to allow of an arrest of any 

 increase of the hernia and the establishing of a healing process in 

 the torn margins. Bouley strongly advises bleeding to allay ab- 

 dominal pain. Chloral hydrate (i ounce for the larger animals) 

 will often meet the same end, with the additional advantage that 

 it counteracts fermentation and tympany. The unloading of 

 stomach and bowels by a cathartic, and the use of flaxseed meal 

 or other concentrated food of a laxative nature are indicated. 

 Small animals may be lifted by their fore limbs, and the abdomen 



