Ruptures 179 
Serotal Hernia 
A scrotal hernia is one in which a loop of the 
intestine descends into the scrotum alongside a tes- 
ticle. It oceurs frequently in foals, usually being 
present when the colt is foaled. A scrotal hernia can 
be recognized by the presence of a large, soft mass 
in the scrotum, that can be pushed up into the abdom- 
inal cavity. By pinching the colt’s throat, and at 
the same time watching the hernia, it will be seen to 
jump up as the colt coughs. 
In a majority of cases in little colts no treatment 
is needed for scrotal hernia, as the animal will outgrow 
the difficulty. In bad and persistent cases, the hernia 
should be returned and the colt castrated by the cov- 
ered operation, described under castration. (Page 186.) 
CUSTOMARY SURGICAL PRACTICES 
Under this head are included such familiar opera- 
tions as removing appendages and preventing the 
breeding of animals. With most of them every 
progressive farmer is now familiar. 
Dehorning 
Dehorning consists in the removal of the horns by 
some surgical method, or by the application to the 
budding horns of calves of some substance that will 
prevent their growth. It is better to remove or pre- 
vent the growth of horns in calves than to wait until 
the animals have attained their growth, In domestic 
