318 SUCCESSFUL OPERATION FOR VENTRAL HERNIA. 
Having recently contrived to “pull through’ 5 a case, I hasten 
to give it you. 
A bay filly, two years old, the property of Wellesley 
Prendergast, Esq., residing at Listerlin, in the county of 
Wexford, some time since received an injury on the side of 
the abdomen, about six inches in front of the patella, and 
close to the cartilages of the hindermost ribs, by which a 
laceration of the muscles was produced, leading to hernia of 
the intestines. She was placed under the care of a veterinary 
surgeon, who was prompted to apply a sticking plaster to 
the hernial swelling, for the purpose of reducing it. After 
the lapse of fourteen days he wrote to the owner of the 
animal, stating that the case was incurable, and that he 
wished him to send for the filly. Mr. Prendergast, not being 
exactly satisfied, sent the filly back to Waterford, and directed 
the steward in charge of her to inquire “at Ion’s” if there 
was any probability of a cure being effected. In my reply, I 
stated that I thought the hernia could be reduced by an 
operation. This being decided upon, on the 8th of March, 
after having prepared the filly, I cast and secured her in the 
usual manner. I then made an opening of about six inches 
in length through the integument, down upon the peritoneum, 
which membrane I next cut through, as, without its division, I 
could not employ my sutures with the same amount of safety. 
I found the edges of the torn muscles very much attenuated, 
but, as stated, the serous membrane was entire. I placed four 
sutures in the deep-seated muscles, leaving their free ends six 
inches long. I then proceeded in the same way with the panni- 
culus carnosus and common integument, placing in them six 
stitches, to effect the closure of the opening. All being 
finished, the animal was permitted to rise. In about an hour 
afterwards she suffered much pain ; this was relieved, however, 
by an anodyne draught. Subsequently a mild aperient was 
given, and bran mash allowed. On the 9th, and following 
days, the subcutaneous cellular tissue of the abdomen w r as 
filled wdth serous exudation, which extended as far forward 
as the neck. The case, however, w r ent on well, good nursing 
being the principal thing required. After the sutures gave 
w r ay, granulation proceeded satisfactorily, and I think I may 
now pronounce the animal as being perfectly cured. 
