358 



VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



it in place. Such a truss, once well fitted to the body, can be. 

 worn without discomfort to the patient until, two to four 

 weeks later, the hernia is found to have disappeared. The 

 only objection to this mode of treatment is the chafing of the 

 skin of the flank by the edge of the elastic band, and this can 

 be overcome by tying the band forward to a girth. And if 

 the truss tends to slip forward from its position if can be held 

 backward with a breechband. 



More radical intervention is, however, required as soon 

 as it becomes evident that simple methods will fail, or when 

 the patient has reached the age of four months without show- 

 ing any improvement ; or, .finally when the hernia tends to 

 enlarge instead of decrease in volume as the subject grows 

 older. It may, therefore, be said that an umbilical hernia in 

 a patient of four months or more is a fit subject for operative 

 treatment. To delay thereafter invites progress toward a 

 state of incurability. 



Fig. 174— Umbilical Hernia. 



RESTRAINT.— The patient, being usually an easily 

 managed youngster, is simply thrown to the ground and held 

 with the hands ; or matters may be facilitated materially by 

 tying the legs with cords. No form of anesthesia is neces- 

 sary. 



INSTRUMENTS, ETC.— 

 i. Scissors. 

 Scalpel. 



Two steel skewers, from four to five inches long. 

 A yard of strong braided silk. 

 Antiseptic solutions. 

 A tumor forceps. 

 Wire cutter. 



The two steel skewers should be pointed sharply at one 



end to facilitate penetration. Wire nails with the heads cut 



off and the ends pointed with a file answer the purpose well. 



ANTISEPSIS, — The antiseptic precautions necessary to 



