PREVENTION, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT Y2 y 



required, as the operation above described is superior to all others 

 and generally feasible. 



Ventral hernias, occurring in any part of the belly from 

 traumatism, may be treated by compression by felt pad and band 

 about the body, or by operations similar to those employed for the 

 cure of umbilical hernia. Large hernise are often incurable. In 

 operations for the cure of ventral hernise it is well to overlap the 

 aponeurotic covering for an inch or two to secure firmer union. 



Inguinal and Scrotal Hernia. — Inguinal hernia occurs 

 more commonly in entire animals, although it sometimes is seen in 

 castrated animals and in females. Congenital hernia is frequent 

 in young pigs and in them the covering of the inguinal or scrotal 

 form is tunica vaginalis. In adults the sac of the inguinal hernia is 

 a separate protrusion of peritoneum. The application of a truss is 

 of no service in inguinal or scrotal hernia. 



In colic in animals the possibility of strangulated inguinal 

 hernia should always be kept in mind and the hernia should be 

 sought for. In large animals the two internal inguinal rings should 

 be examined per rectum and compared. In strangulated inguinal 

 hernia reduction may be accomplished by throwing the animal in 

 the dorsal position and then pushing the contents of the hernia into 

 the external ring, with one hand on the scrotum, while the other in 

 the rectum drags back the bowel through the internal ring. Anes- 

 thesia assists taxis, but on no account should any violence be used, 

 and if reduction seems impossible open operation should be done 

 without any prolonged efforts at reduction. If reduction is suc- 

 cessful a clamp may be placed over the skin of the half of the 

 scrotum, corresponding to the side of the hernia, and as close to the 

 belly as possible. This may be done in the case of either gelding or 

 stallion. The scrotum is enclosed by the clamp until it sloughs away. 



The radical operation for inguinal hernia is the most effective 

 and surgical. The use of clamps is unsurgical, in that the result is 

 uncertain and not under the control of the operator, and infection 



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