292 HERNIiE. 



TREATMENT. — Excellent results can be obtained in the treat- 

 ment of this form of hernia, by the continued use of a truss which 

 is kept in position by means of its attachment to a roller (Fig. 

 114). The following surgical treatment is recommended: — The 

 animal is cast, placed on its back, the hind legs bent and drawn 

 outwards, the hair shaved from over the hernial sac, which is 

 washed and rinsed with a disinfecting fluid. After complete re- 

 placement, the folds of the sac are gathered together in the direc- 

 tion of its long axis, and beginning with one end, transfixed close 

 to the abdominal wall with a slightly bent needle, provided with a 

 strong sterilised double silk thread. The threads, when drawn 

 through, are divided close to the needle, and the ends of the one 

 half tied tightly together, whilst an assistant draws the sac gently 

 upwards. The needle carrying the second half of the thread is 

 again passed through the sac about | of an inch from the first 

 point of incision,. and this section ligatured in a similar way. The 

 same process is continued until the entire sac is ligatured. Should 

 the animal struggle whilst the needle is being passed, the fingers of 

 the left hand are placed on the umbilical ring to prevent the 

 intestine protruding and being transfixed, or we should wait 

 until the animal is again quiet. The entire sac is then once 

 more rinsed with sublimate or carbolic solution, and the ligatures 

 on both sides of the sac powdered with a mixture of iodoform and 

 tannin (1 to 3) (Holler's " Veterinary Surgery "). 



When the hernia is very large adopt Siedamgrotzky's method of 

 reducing the tumour, dividing the skin which covers it, paring the 

 edges of the umbilical ring, and bringing them together with 

 strong antiseptic cat-gut or strong antiseptic silk thread. Then 

 pare the overlying skin to a convenient size, suture its edges with 

 similar cat-gut or silk thread, and finally cover the wound over 

 with antiseptic cotton-wool and suitable bandages. 



llie?^- : r_ 



Yentral Hernise. 



The contents of these tumours consist as a rule of large intes- 

 tine and omentum^, and, in very rare cases, of an internal organ, 

 such as the liver. The opening through which the contents escape 

 is an artificial one in the wall of the abdomen, generally on the 

 left side and behind the ribs. The term, rupture, can therefore 

 be appropriately applied to a ventral hernia. The sac of the 

 tumour usually is formed of skin and the sheet of the muscle (pan- 

 niculus) by which the horse is able to twitch off flies and other 

 objects that happen to alight on his shoulders and sides. These 

 tumours as a rule are caused by internal injuries, and in straining 

 when foaling. They sometimes attain to the size of a man's head 



