DISEASES OP THE DIGESTWE ORGANS. 83 



not cause the least uneasiness or distress. In course of time, however, 

 the imprisoned gut becomes filled with feces, its return into the ab- 

 dominal cavity is prevented, and it becomes strangulated. While 

 the gut is thus filling the horse often appears dull, is disinclined to 

 move, appetite is impaired, and there is rumbling and obstruction of 

 the bowels. Colicky symptoms now supervene. Strangulation and 

 its consequent train of symptoms do not always follow in scrotal 

 hernia, for often horses have this condition for years without suffer- 

 ing inconvenience. 



iNGTJiNAii HERNIA IS but an incomplete scrotal hernia, and, like the 

 latter, may exist and cause no signs of distress, or, again, it may 

 become strangulated and cause death. Inguinal hernia is seen mostly 

 in stallions, next in geldings, and very rarely in the mare. Bearing 

 in mind that scrotal hernia is seen only in entire horses, we may 

 proceed to detail the symptoms of strangulated, inguinal, and scrotal 

 hernia at the same time. When, during the existence of coliclty 

 symptoms, we find a horse kicking with his hind feet while standing 

 or lying upon his back, we should look to the inguinal region and 

 scrotum. If scrotal hernia exists, the scrotum will be enlarged and 

 lobulated ; by pressure we may force a portion of the contents of the 

 gut back into the abdomen, eliciting a gurgling sound. If we take 

 a gentle but jfirm hold upon the enlarged scrotum and then have an 

 assistant cause the horse to cough, the swelling will be felt to expand 

 and as quickly contract again. 



The history of these cases will materially aid us, as the owner can 

 often assure us of preceding attacks of " colic," more or less severe, 

 that have been instantaneously relieved in some (to him) unaccount- 

 able manner. The colicky symptoms of these hernias are not diag- 

 nostic, butj probably, more closely resemble those of enteritis than 

 any other bowel diseases. In many cases the diagnosis can be made 

 only by a veterinarian, when he has recourse to a rectal examination ; 

 . the bowels can here be felt entering the internal abdominal ring. 



Treatment of inguinal hernia. — If the reader is sure of the exist- 

 ence of hernia, he should secure the horse upon its back, and, with 

 a hand in the rectum, endeavor to catch hold of the wandering bowel 

 and pull it gently back into the cavity of the abdomen. Pressure 

 should be made upon the scrotum during this time. If this fails, a 

 veterinarian must be called to reduce the hernia by means of incising 

 the inguinal ring, replacing the intestines, and to castrate, using 

 damps and performing the "covered operation." 



Venteal hernia. — In this form of hernia the protrusion is through 

 some accidental opening or rupture of the abdominal wall. It may 

 occur at any part of the beUy except at the umbilicus, and is caused 

 by kicks, blows, hooks, severe jumping or pulling, etc. Ventral 



