ON THE TREATMENT OF EXOMPHALUS. 
603 
other, and to the walls of the abdomen. At this point the cica- 
trix is always rigid. In some cases the deposition seems to 
extend into the umbilical opening, for in most of the patients 
no aperture can be felt. In others it remains pervious to a cer- 
tain depth, perhaps to the peritoneum. In the filly, the skin 
can be forced into the original passage, which, externally, is 
wide enough to admit two fingers, with the integument. The 
opening is not quite through ; but I suspect it is bounded only by 
the peritoneum or by the bowel. I cannot account for this case, 
without supposing that the adhesive inflammation had extended 
into the belly, and united the peritoneum at the point of egress ; 
or perhaps the bowel may adhere to the internal opening. 
In none of the cases has the hernia ever re-appeared. It is 
nearly three years since the first, and it is one since the last was 
operated on. 
I do not pretend that this is a new operation. But it is not 
described, nor even mentioned, by any of our veterinary au- 
thors. I have looked over the index to The Veterinarian, but 
find no notice of it there. If it be already in that periodical, the 
editors, I hope, will not make me ridiculous by publishing this. 
On the human being, the operation is as old as the timeofCel- 
sus. A very good account of its history, modifications, and 
application to children is to be found in Cooper’s Surg. Die. 
Article Hernia, p. 680. In reference to our patients, I am told that 
it is described in Hurtrel D’Arboval’s Dictionary. The French, 
my informant adds, have different modes of performing it. One 
of these, it appears to me, might be very useful when the hernial 
tumour is large, or oblong. The colt is cast, and secured on his 
back ; the skin is seized and raised, so as to form a longitudinal 
fold, grasped by the hand, or by a pair of clams ; commencing at 
one extremity of this duplicature, the operator introduces a num- 
ber of ligatures, each independent of any other. An armed 
needle is passed through the fold, half an inch from the one end ; 
the thread is tied tightly ; another thread is drawn into the 
same passage, say from right to left ; this returns from left to 
right half an inch, more or less, from its point of entrance ; both 
ends of the ligature are thus brought to the same side ; it is then 
tied, and others are inserted in sufficient number to embrace the 
whole length of the flap, each surrounding a distinct and sepa- 
rate portion. When the ligatures are all secured, the fold hangs 
like a cow’s dewlap, and the blood is entirely intercepted. 
I have not, however, met with a case in which it was neces- 
sary to operate in this maimer. Great care must be required to 
keep the bowel within the belly, least it be reached by the 
needle, and embraced by the ligature. 
