INGUINAL AND SCROTAL HERNIA. 327 



Inguinal and Scrotal Hernia. 

 {Hernia Inguinalis and Scrotalis). 



The inguinal canal of the dog is located in the abdominal mus- 

 cles with the seminal cord, and runs from the testicles into the 

 abdominal cavity. In the bitch we find a round ligament from the 

 end of Fallopian tube toward the subcutis. Inguinal hernia may 

 be produced by a portion of the intestine passing from the abdom- 

 inal cavity into the inguinal canal. . If this is the case in the dog, 

 and the loop of the intestine goes as far as the scrotum, we call it 

 scrotal hernia. If it simply lies in the canal, it is called inguinal 

 hernia. 



Clinical Symptoms op Inguinal and Scrotal Hernia in 

 THE Dog. According to Hertwig, from the external abdominal 

 ring as far as the scrotum the canal is almost cylindrical, and we 

 find this filling up with an abnormally warm swelling, which has 

 a peculiar elastic softness and '' doughy " feel under the skin. In 

 large heruias we may reduce this partially or altogether by placing 

 the animal on its back, holding up the hind-quarters, and gently 

 pressing or rubbing with the finger upon the hernial swelling. If 

 the intestine has entered the scrotum, the affected side appears 

 full and large, and may be reduced by the manipulations indicated 

 above. In cases of strangulation the symptoms which have been 

 described before become apparent, and, if the symptoms are very 

 acute and all attempts at reduction are futile, we must perform 

 the operation of castration. 



Castration. In normal conditions — that is to say, when no hernia is 

 present — castration of the dog must be performed by laying the animal 

 on his side, rendering all the parts aseptic, and holding the skin tightly 

 over the testicle, compressing it between the finger and thumb. Then make 

 an incision the entire length of the scrotum, cutting through the scrotum, 

 the tunica dartoa, and tunica vaginalis, so that the testicle, which is covered 

 by the tunica vaginalis, is exposed (compare with Fig. 72). 



This must be removed, and after that the common intersecting membrane 

 is opened up as far as possible by means of a pair of scissors ; then place 

 a strong silk suture around the seminal cord, close up to the inguinal ring 

 and ligate it. When this is done, the seminal cord, with all the superfluous 

 portions of the interstitial membrane, is amputated about 1 cm. below the 

 ligature. The other testicle must be removed in the same manner. After 

 carefully closing the wound with a strong non-irritating disinfectant, the 



