130 SPECIAL EQUINE THERAPY 



UMBILICAL HERNIA 



Umbilical hernia in eolts should not be considered as a 

 surgical condition before the sixth month. This form of 

 rupture is amenable to medical treatment in probably 90 

 per cent of all cases if treatment is begun not later than 

 the second month of life. 



An umbilical hernia that gives no evidence of becoming 

 reduced, or, on the other hand, that increases in size by 

 the time the colt is two months old, should be treated. 

 Umbilical hernia that decreases in size can be left alone 

 until the colt nears the age of six months. Many cases of 

 navel hernia disappear spontaneously before the sixth 

 month. In aU cases a cure should be attempted by medici- 

 nal agents before surgical intervention is thought of. 

 The risk with medical treatment is practically nil, and 

 if the result should not be completely satisfactory, the 

 colt is still a good subject for the surgical procedure. I 

 repeat that, if treatment is begun not later than at two 

 months of age, a cure results in 90 per cent of aU cases. 

 About one in ten will refuse to yield to such measures as 

 I am about to outline, and appropriate surgical interfer- 

 ence will be required for the correction of the abnormality 

 in these. 



Treatment. Very small hernias will disappear with 

 the use of ordinary blisters. The treatment that I have 

 found the most cleanly, and that accomplishes uniformly 

 satisfactory results with reasonable dispatch, consists of 

 the application of fuming nitric acid. To make the appli- 

 cation properly, the colt must be laid on his back. Before 

 the acid is applied, a good sized area around the hernial 

 enlargement, which area should not get nearer than one 

 inch to the outer circumference of the enlargement, is 

 liberally smeared with vaseline. Lard should not be 

 used; it is too light in body and does not remain adherent 



