216 CANINE MEDICINE AND SURGERY 



through the skin only. Return the contents of the 

 sac, being careful to break down all adhesions. 

 Scarify the edges of the umbilical ring and draw 

 them together with silk sutures. The skin is then 

 sutured with silkworm gut or silk, the wound dried, 

 and sealed with iodized collodion. 



Ventral Hernia 



Ventral hernia is usually the result of some injury 

 that has lacerated or ruptured the subcuticular tis- 

 sues, thus allowing some of the internal organs to 

 protrude. It may also occur as a sequel to lapa- 

 rotomy, due to want of care in suturing. 



Technic. — After the usual precautions have been 

 taken for the maintenance of asepsis, make an in- 

 cision through the skin down to the sac (peritoneal 

 covering). Incise the sac, and return the contents 

 to the abdomen, enlarging the hernial opening if 

 necessary to effect this. Trim off the superfluous 

 sac and after refreshing the edges of the muscles, 

 place two rows of sutures. The deep row, of cat- 

 gut, must include the peritoneum and muscular 

 layers ; the upper, of silk, closes the skin wound. 

 After drying the wound, seal with collodion and, 

 if necessary, support with a sterile pad of gauze 

 and a bandage. In large rents of the abdominal 

 wall, where there is risk of prolapses, a Bayer suture 

 and dressing should be placed in addition to the. 

 simple suturing. 



Inguinal Hernia 



Inguinal hernia is more common in bitches than 

 in dogs, and commoner in multipara than in maidens. 

 As a rule the contents of the sac contain one or 

 both cornua of the uterus, and frequently include 

 intestine and omentum in addition. 



Technic. — After thoroughly disinfecting the opera- 



