36$ 



VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



retain the contents within the abdominal cavity by bandages 

 or by application of a truss, in hopes that the breach will 

 close, or at least leave a much smaller orifice than if the con- 



FlG. 180 



tents were allowed to make matters worse by their weight. 

 A truss, made by tacking a rounded block of soft wood to a 

 square piece of sole leather somewhat larger, which is held 

 in place with strong elastic bands encircling the body, will 



Fig. 181 



often accomplish wonders in the treatment of recent ventral 

 hernias. The rounded piece of wood should fit lposely into 

 the breach. As fast as healing progresses, the block is trim- 



