UMBILICAL HERNIA. 281 
In severe burns or scalds, in view of the danger from exhaustion, the strength 
must be sustained by highly nutritious diet; also stimulants if rapid failure is 
threatened. 
UMBILICAL HERNIA. 
Umbilical hernia is, as its name suggests, a protrusion of a portion of the 
intestine or its covering through an opening at the navel. Occurring in early 
puppyhood, during which period of life it is by far most common, it may be con- 
genital —that is, present at birth — or accidental. In the first instance the intes- 
tines are located in the umbilical cord and never properly covered ; while in the 
other, the affection is due to imperfect closure of the opening in the walls which 
existed at birth. 
In hernia in puppies the protrusion is generally noticed a few days after 
birth, and gradually grows more pronounced for a time, or it may mature, as it 
were, rapidly, and within a few days be quite complete, and nearly as extensive 
as ever after. 
Occurring after puppyhood the greatest proportion of its victims are females 
that have been frequently in whelp, and with large litters. Or it may be the 
result of a fall or severe strain otherwise produced. 
The trouble is easily recognized, there existing a soft enlargement at the 
navel, varying in size from a filbert to an English walnut. A cure now and then 
takes place spontaneously, but such happy result is far from common, and an 
operation is very generally necessary. During that the intestine is pushed back, 
and the opening in the abdominal walls, through which it protruded, is closed by 
stitches. The following is a simple, comparatively safe, and easy method of 
procedure : — 
If the patient is a pup six or eight weeks old, before the operation he should 
be allowed for a day only bread and milk, and then-forced to fast for at least half 
a day. Finally his bowels should be unloaded by sweet oil. All in readiness 
for the operation, the hair should be carefully shaved from the parts over the 
rupture and a short distance beyond. Then, after they have been thoroughly 
cleaned with soap and water, there should be applied to them a compress of 
cotton or linen cloth wet with a solution of corrosive sublimate, 1 to 1000; and 
the same be kept on for about ten minutes. 
The next step is to produce, as nearly as possible, local anesthesia or absence 
of feeling ; and for the purpose the parts might be sprayed with the following 
mixture : — 
Chloroform, two and one-half drachms; sulphuric ether, four drachms ; 
menthol, one-half a drachm. 
This should deaden sensation for four or five minutes. 
