84 DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 



hernia is most common in pregnant mar^s, and is here due to the 

 weight of the fetus or to some degenerative changes taldng place in 

 the abdominal coats. It is recognized by the appearance of a swell- 

 ing, at the base of which can be felt the opening or rent in the ab- 

 dominal tunics, and from the fact that the swelling containing the 

 intestines can be made to disappear when the animal is placed in a 

 favorable position. 



Treatment of ventral hernia. — In many instances there is no occa- 

 sion for treatment, and again, where the hernial sac is extensive, 

 treatment is of no avail. If the hernia is small, a cure may be at- 

 tempted by the methods to be described in treating of umbilical 

 hernia. If one is fortunate enough to be present when the hernia 

 occurs, and particularly if it is not too large, he may, by the proper 

 application of a pad and broad bandage, effect a perfect cure. 



Umbilical hernia is the passing of any portion of the bowel or 

 omentum ("caul") through the navel, forming a "tumor" at this 

 point. This is often congenital in our animals, and is due to the im- 

 perfect closure of the umbilicus and to the position of the body. 

 Many cases of umbilical hernia, like inguinal and scrotal of the con- 

 genital kind,, disappear entirely by the time the animal reaches its 

 second or third year. Advancing age favors cure in these cases from 

 the fact that the omentum (swinging support of the bowels) is pro- 

 portionally shorter in adults than in foals, thus lifting the intestines 

 out of the hernial sac and allowing the opening in the walls to close. 

 Probably one of the most frequent causes of umbilical hernia in foals 

 is the practice of keeping them too long from their dams, causing 

 them to fret and worry, and to neigh, or cry, by the hour. The con- 

 traction of the a,bdominal muscles and pressure of the intestines dur- 

 ing neighing seem to open the umbilicus and induce hernia. Acci- 

 dents may cause umbilical hernia in adults in the same manner as 

 ventral hernia is produced, though this is very rare. 



Treatment of umhiUcal hernia^ — In the treatment of umbilical 

 hernia it should be remembered that congenital hernias are often 

 removed with age, but probably congenital umhilical hernias less fre- 

 quently than others. Among the many plans of treatment are to be 

 mentioned the application of a pad over the tumor, the pad being 

 held in place by a broad, tight bandage placed around the animal's 

 body. The chief objection to this is the difficulty in keeping the pad 

 in its place. Blisters are often applied over the swelling, and, ag 

 the skin hardens and contracts by the formation of scabs, an artificial 

 bandage or pressure is produced that at times is successful. Another 

 treatment that has gained considerable repute of late years consists 

 in first clipping off the hair over the swelling. Nitric acid is then 

 applied with a small brush, using only enough to moisten the skin. 



