HERNIA AND PEOLAPSUS 143 



size, may be round or show a split. The edge of this mouth, 

 in old hernias also termed the ring, has a firm, fibrous feel. 

 In cattle this ring has been found ossified. The palpating 

 fingers can reduce the hernia ; that is, can push back part 

 or all of the contents of the sac into the abdominal cavity if 

 the hernia be a ventral one. Percussion of the sac in case it 

 contains bowels gives rise to a tympanitic sound. 



0ive the symptoms of an incarcerated hernia. 



In the obstructed hernia most of the symptoms just men- 

 tioned above are present, but there is this difference : in the 

 sac, doughy feces, gases and liquids can be felt, the tumor is 

 larger than ordinarily and cannot be reduced by taxis. There 

 is abdominal pain. In dogs and swine, besides these symp- 

 toms there may be slight vomiting. I have had two patients 

 (geldings) for several years who invariably had nasty colics 

 from incarcerated inguinal hernia whenever they were 

 allowed to stand in the barn for a few days in succession. 

 Both of these animals died subsequently, the post mortem 

 examination revealing the fact that the incarcerated hernia 

 had become strangulated, which diagnosis had been made at 

 the time of their last illness. 



Give the symptoms of strangulated hernia. 



More often seen in old hernias than recent ones. In the 

 horse — usually the stallion of mature age — they are ushered 

 in with colicky symptoms. The hernial sac is painful on pal- 

 pation, and shows increased heat and cannot be reduced. 

 The tumor feels tense, the animal stretches same as they do 

 before stalling, or take a dog-sitting position or show other 

 symptoms suggestive of intestinal obstruction ; the pulse i? 

 rapid and soon becomes wiry ; the facial expression is one of 

 great anxiety, etc. 



