392 The Management and Diseases of the Dog. 
Treatment.—This is exceedingly simple, and invariably 
successful. As soon as the animal is weaned,* being 
placed on his back, a conical-shaped portion of cork, with 
a broad base, covered or not with calico or wash-leather, 
should be applied to the protrusion, and secured there 
with strips of pitch-plaster. 
If the hernia is allowed to go on until puppyhood is past, 
more difficulty will be experienced in dealing with it, and 
the chances of success will be rendered less certain. 
On the 25th of June, 1877, a young pug dog, fourteen 
weeks old, was brought for my advice regarding a navel 
enlargement, which I pronounced to be hernia, and most 
probably zzzestenal; but I could detect no communication 
between the protruded portion, whatever it was, and the in- 
testine within the abdomen, nor could any manipulation 
reduce it. Fasting made no difference in its appearance or 
feel, nor yet did a full meal. The enlargement was very 
much constricted at its base,and gave one the idea of an 
empty portion of intestine or bladder inflated and tied 
firmly round. To ascertain its true nature before resorting 
to any operation for its removal (after fasting the animal), 
I explored it with a suture needle; but neither blood, 
serum, nor any other kind of fluid, nor yet did collapse, 
follow the puncture. The owner then acting on my 
advice, chloroform was administered to the patient, and an 
incision made through the skin with a lancet, for the pur- 
pose of removing the protrusion by ligature, should it 
prove to be omentum or obliterated intestine ; or if both, 
and the latter was not obliterated, return it and close the 
aperture with suture. 
It was found to be the former, and removed accordingly ; 
a couple of stitches being inserted through the lips of the 
divided integument and the ends of the ligature left out. 
* Any appliance before weaning would most likely be removed by 
the mother’s teeth. 
