QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 231 



better method is the radical operation — ^herniotomy and suturing 

 of the hernial ring. Fast the animal and evacuate the bowels. 

 Chloroform anssthesia is very desirable and more humane. Place 

 the patient on its back, shave and disinfect the operative field. 

 Make an incision through the skin, suture the hernial ring with silk 

 or chromatized catgut, with or without opening the peritoneal cavity. 

 Close the skin wound and apply an antiseptic dressing holding same 

 in place with a body bandage. 



Describe a case of rupture of the prepubian ligament. 



This condition occurs most commonly in pregnant mares. It 

 appears as an immense hernial swelling on the ventral surface of 

 the abdomen, extending from the os pubis forward on the abdomen, 

 giving the animal a much distorted appearance. The mammae may 

 be drawn anteriorly a distance of 8 to 12 inches from the normal 

 location. The patient is usually quiet unless strangulation occurs. 



Give the causes, symptoms and treatment of ascites in the dog. 



Causes: Obstruction to the circulation from diffuse induration 

 of the liver, emboli, weak heart, etc., kidney disease, chronic peri- 

 tonitis and tuberculosis. 



Symptoms: An abnormal distention of the abdomen. The 

 swelling is of a fluctuating nature and gives a dull percussion 

 sound which is bounded above by a horizontal line. No matter what 

 attitude is assumed by the animal, this horizontal line remains. 

 The patient has a pot-bellied appearance, appears dull and becomes 

 dyspnceic upon slight exertion. Diagnosis can be confirmed by 

 passing a trocar into the peritoneal cavity and recovering some of the 

 liquid contents. The prognosis is bad. 



Treatment : Remove the cause (heart, liver or kidney diseases) . 

 This is usually impossible, so that only temporary relief can be 

 afforded with palliatives. Saline purgatiyes, diuretics, heart tonics, 

 etc., may be useful. Puncturing is often beneficial in relieving 

 severe dyspnoea. 



Give the symptoms of intussusception. 



The symptoms are mainly those of obstruction of the bowels such 

 as continuous colicky pains, passing of a few fecal balls at first but 

 later a cessation of defecation, tympanites, and absence of peri- 

 stalsis. A manual examination per rectum may aid in making the 

 diagnosis. The pains may subside in about 12 hours to be followed 

 by chills and death. 



