FEMORAL HERNIA. 



113 



remove a certain part of omentum 1 (if this be present), return 

 the bowel, and excise an elliptical piece of the pendulous skin 

 before suturing the wound, in order to get greater contraction 

 when cicatrisation takes place ; or (2) to follow Gray's method 

 as already advocated in scrotal hernia, i.e., to perform laparo- 

 tomy and suture the prolapsed organs to the interior of the 

 abdominal wall. 



Femoral Hernia is of such extremely rare occurrence as to 

 only merit a passing allusion to it. Although each of the 

 other forms of hernia has been recognised and treated, no 

 case of the femoral variety has been seen in the College Out- 



FlG. 02. 

 Curved hernia needles, MacEwen's, for suturing tlie inguinal ring. 



patients' Clinique during the past seven years. According to 

 Muller it is occasionally seen after fractures of the pelvis, 

 occurring as a soft painful swelling in the inner fascia of the 

 thigh. The principles of operation are the same as with other 

 herniae, very great care being necessary on account of the close 

 proximity and size of the blood-vessels in this region. 



The sequelae of the operative treatment of hernia are as a 

 rule satisfactory, provided the displaced organs have not become 

 strangulated. The chief mishaps likely to occur afterwards are, 

 (i) violent removal of the sutures by the patient, and subsequent 

 descent of the bowel or other organ ; (2) haemorrhage either at 



'Journal of Comvarative Pathology and Ther.\peutics,' Vol. XII., p. 260. 



H 



