84 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 4 
hernia is most common in pregnant mares, and is here due to the 
weight of the fetus or to some degenerative changes taking 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. 
Freatment 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 abdominal 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 umbilical hernia—In the treatment of umbilical 
hernia it should be remembered that congenital hernias are often 
removed with age, but probably congenital wmbilical 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, as 
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. 
