24 HISffORT of the SOCIETY. 



variety a real addition to the pathology of the difeafe. It is a 

 modification of Inguinal Hernia. But as the circumftances 

 of difference are conflant and effential, it may fairly be regard- 

 ed as a diftinct fpecies. In the common cafes of inguinal her- 

 nia, the vifcera which are to form the protrufion enter the up- 

 per and internal orifice of the abdominal ring, along with the 

 fpermatic cord, accompany the cord through the whole length 

 of the pafTage, and come out along with it at the inferior and 

 external orifice of the ring. Thus the hernia is formed by the 

 dilatation of a natural pafTage. But in this new and hitherto 

 undefcribed variety, the vifcera bur ft through the common pa- 

 rietes of the abdomen, exactly oppofite to the lower and external 

 orifice of the ring, where they come into contact with the fper- 

 matic cord, and defcend along with it directly into the fcrotum. 

 This hernia, therefore, refembles a ventral hernia in its com- 

 mencement, by beginning to protrude where there is no natural 

 opening; and it refembles an inguinal hernia, by palling through 

 the lower and external orifice of the abdominal ring, where the 

 protrufion of the common inguinal hernia is completed. Thus 

 it is a hernia of a mixed nature, forming an intermediate fpecies 

 between a fimple and pure ventral hernia, and the common and 

 perfect inguinal hernia. 



Another effential circumftance refpects the pofition of the 

 hernia with regard to the courfe of the epigaftric artery. In 

 ordinary cafes of inguinal hernia, the epigaftric artery runs on 

 the infide of the hernia, but in this variety it conftantly runs on 

 the outfide. This leads to fome important confiderations in 

 practice, though Mr Russel did not enter fully into the appli- 

 cations of the peculiarities, either to practical points, or to the 

 explanation of various curious circumftances in the hiftory of 

 hernial fwellings. 



ANTIQUITIES, 



