370 Veterinary Medicine. 



the margins of the wound and causing them to contract so as to 

 strangle the inclosed loop of intestine. 



Symptoms. The indications are those of intestinal obstruction, 

 to which accordingly the reader is referred. The only possible 

 indication of the exact nature of the lesion is to be obtained by 

 rectal exploration. Hernise through the meso-colon or broad 

 uterine ligament may be reached in this way, and possibly 

 diagnosed. 



Treatment. Laparotomy alone gives any hope of success, and 

 this will only be warranted when a certain diagnosis has been 

 reached. 



HERNIA THROUGH THE FORAMEN OF WINSLOW IN 



THE HORSE. 



Anatomical considerations, small size and elevated position of foramen, 

 length and freedom of mesentery of jejunum ; spare diet, draught, strain- 

 ing, rolling, colic. Symptoms : of intestinal obstruction only, lesion found 

 at necropsy. 



The foramen of Winslow is a comparatively small opening 

 between the lesser curvature of the .stomach and the liver, and 

 between the gullet and its cardiac ligament on the left side and 

 the gastro-hepatic omentum on the left. With its elevated and 

 anterior position in the abdomen it would seem to be little ex- 

 posed to this kind of accident, yet a number of recorded in- 

 stances in the horse, show that it is certainly not immune. The 

 great mobility of the jejunum, owing to the extra length of its 

 mesentery is believed to be the e.s.sential predisposing cause. A 

 spare diet, or one which is in small bulk, allows the comparatively 

 empty gut to pass more readily through the small opening. 

 Severe efforts in draught and straining in defecation and parturi- 

 tion are also invoked as means of pressing the jejunum through 

 the orifice. So with the concus,sions attendant on falls and the 

 unwonted positions taken in decubitus and rolling on the back in 

 wantonness or colic. 



Symptoms of this lesion are essentially those of intestinal ob- 

 struction, with usually a rapid and fatal course. An accurate 

 diagnosis is impossible during life. 



