288 HEENIiE. 



in which position it will cut outwards through the tightly stretched 

 tissues that press against it. This, as a rule, will be sufificient to 

 free the constriction, which in any case will require only a very 

 slight incision. Remember that an important artery (the posterior 

 abdominal) passes along the inner side of the inguinal canal. If, 

 after the operation, the end of the index finger can be passed beyond 

 the site of the previously existing constriction, the knife has cer- 

 tainly penetrated deeply enough. If unprovided with a suitable 

 instrument, the constriction may be overcome by using an impro- 

 vised one in the same manner, or even by the end of the finger. 

 Having broken down the obstacle to the return of the bowel into 

 the abdomen, if necessary, gently aid the reduction of the tumour, 

 by manipulating it from without and within, as previously 

 described. All the preceding work on exposed tissues, should be 

 conducted with the utmost regard to cleanliness, and as far as 

 possible under antiseptic conditions (p. 70) ; and the same course 

 should be pursued in our subsequent treatment. It would be well 

 to withhold all food from the animal for at least twenty-four hours ; 

 a^lthough he should get a full amount of water in small quantities 

 at a time. He should be brought on gradually to his usual allow- 

 ance of food. If a. sedative be deemed' necessary, give him one 

 ounce of chloral hydrate in a pint of water, or f oz. of chlorodyne. 



If the operation of freeing the constriction by means of the 

 knife has been properly carried out, it will, after the intestine has 

 been returned, act as an effective prevention to a relapse. The 

 operation, if skilfully executed, is productive of far less danger, 

 than the method of pulling and pushing the inflamed intestine. 

 It should therefore on no account be regarded as a last resource. 



After the bowel has been returned, it is the practice of many 

 veterinary surgeons always to put either a straight or curved clam 

 close to the animal's belly and immediately below the inguinal 

 canal. Before doing this, it is well to give the tunica vaginalis 

 (the membrane which, in the entire, forms a purse for the testicle 

 on each side, see Fig. 112) and the cord a complete turn on their 

 long axis, so as to help to close the opening. The clams are placed 

 over the tunica vaginalis and the cord. " As the chief difficulty 

 in applying the clams high is occasioned by the outer skin and soft 

 parts lying below it, I select a short but carefully-disinfected pair 

 of clams, and make an incision through the skin, large enough to 

 allow the clams to be pushed to the bottom of the wound, and to 

 be just under the inguinal ring. The skin is then brought over 

 them and sutured, thus retaining them in the wound. If neither 

 fever, swelling, nor other disturbance is marked during the next 

 ffew days, I allow the clams to remain in position for a week. On 

 removal, healthy granulations will be found, unaccompanied by pus 



