790 



DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



and certain, and the clamp is less liable to slip off before the work > 

 is completed. Its efficacy is increased by a groove in one side, 

 which receives an elevation or piece of wire riveted in the opposite 

 half. The length of the bars when put together for use is from five 

 to eight inches. In applying the contrivance, the animal should be 

 secured and placed on its back. After carefully seeing that all the 

 intestine is returned into the abdominal cavity, the skin over the 

 rupture is drawn together in a flat fold, corresponding with a cen- 

 tral longitudinal line through the abdomen. The clamp is then put 

 over the skin, as close to the abdomen as possible, the screws are 

 tightened, and the clamp is allowed to remain till it sloughs off. 

 Instead of the clamps, a ligature of strong cord is sometimes used. 

 Two needles are passed through the skin over the rupture, at right 



angles to each other, and 

 the cord passed under 

 and between them. This 

 is frequently attended 

 with danger, as the in- 

 testines are included. In 

 a case of strangulated 

 hernia, where the gut 

 cannot be pushed back, 

 the opening should be 

 cut down upon and en- 

 larged, and the parts 

 returned. The abdomi- 

 nal wound should then 

 be sewed up, and a car- 

 bolized compress bound 

 a competent veterinary 



Fig. 1040.— Ox Prepared for Casting. 



\ 



over it. In strangulated scrotal hernia 

 surgeon should be called. 



Ventral hernia, in which the contents of the abdomen pass 

 through a rent in the abdominal wall, as the result of being gored 

 by the horns or thrown upon any projecting body, is treated as fol- 

 lows, as soon after the injury as possible : — 



The animal is to be cast (see Fig. 1040), an incision is made in 

 the skin, and the intestines are returned ; the wound in the abdom- 

 inal muscles is then united with catgut or metallic sutures, and the 

 outer wound in the skin closed. Admirable success attends these 

 operations when they are performed with cleanliness and care. 



