INGUINAL HERNIA. 



283 



as the testicle. In entires, the contents of an inguinal hernia are 

 usually' intestine; in geldings, omentum. Hence, cases in the 

 latter are as a rule much less grave than in the former. 





Fig. 112. — .Strangulated Inguinal Hernia. (Borrowed from T'euch and 

 Toussaint's "Chirurgie Vcterinaire.") A, coils of intestine. B B, 

 loop of escaped intestine. D D, point of constriction. E, interior 

 of scrotum (tunica vaginalis), in which the testicle (T) lies. 



The causes are : excessive contraction of the abdominal muscles 

 (as during violent exertion, or when struggling) by which a portion 

 of the contents of the abdomen is forced through the inguinal 

 canal ; shock from falls, etc. ; or the fact of the inguinal canal 



