HERNIA 225 



should be carefully prepared as already described (p. 2). If 

 a general ansesthetic is used (see p. 29), the patient is placed 

 on the operating-table in the abdominal posture (Fig. 14), and 

 afterwards turned on its back or side as the operator may 

 consider the most convenient. If a local anaesthetic (see 

 p. 24) is sufficient, the animal is at once placed in the most 

 con^-enient position for the performance of the operation, and 

 the anaesthetic applied. Rigid antiseptic precautions (see 

 p. 7) are ahvays necessary with regard to instruments, the 

 parts to be incised, and the operator's lingers. 



If the internal organs are at all adherent, the greatest care 

 must be taken to prevent injuring them with the scalpel. 



The author had one case of ventral hernia in a cat in which this 

 accident occurred, the small intestine being cut transversely for fully 

 seven-eighths of its circumference. A number of worms {Ascaris mystax) 

 were removed from the interior of the bowel, the gut was carefully cleansed 

 with chinosol solution and sutured with silk (Lembert's pattern), and the 

 patient made an excellent recovery.^ 



Instruments required. — These consist of two sharp scalpels, 

 a director, probe, blunt-pointed scissors, two pairs of dis- 

 secting forceps, two or three pairs of Spencer Wells' artery 

 forceps, t\\'o curved and two half-curved needles, silk and 

 silkworm gut. 



In addition, a hernia bistourj', a pair of MacEwen's needles 

 (Fig. 155), and for perineal hernia, if the distended bladder is 

 suspected to be present, a small exploring trocar and cannula, 

 are useful adjuncts. 



Umbilical Hernia. 



This condition consists of a swelling at the umbilicus : it 

 may be soft and fluctuating, in which case it is .generally 

 reducible, the umbilical ring being plainh' defined ; or it ma}- 

 be irreducible from adhesions or because the umbilical ring 

 has contracted since the mass was extruded. In the latter 



■ Ridler and Hobday, Veterinary Record, 1901. 



15 



