292 
FALSE INGUINAL HERNIA. 
hernia knife. Others use the fingers instead of a probe, and pass the 
hernia knife along these to divide the abdominal ring. Siegen states 
having thus rendered a horse fit for work in twelve days. The second 
wound is sewn up and a suitable antiseptic dressing applied. Unless 
strictly antiseptic, this method is open to grave objection, as Peuch has 
already pointed out. 
A bloodless method of operation which aims at preserving the testicle, 
but could only be used in very recent cases, is described by Bagge and 
Griinwald. The stallion is cast, rolled on its back, and anaesthetised. A 
mass of cotton wool saturated with chloroform is laid on the scrotum. 
The evaporation is said to cause rapid diminution in volume of the gases 
enclosed in the strangulated portion of bowel, and to allow of reduction in 
a few minutes. 
In other respects the operation for inguinal hernia is not so grave. 
Bouley states having effected a cure after strangulation lasting twenty- 
four hours. According to Stockfieth, of 55 horses, 18 died after dilatation 
of the abdominal ring; in Alfort, 8 out of 20 died; but Benjamin only 
lost 5 out«of 28 operated on. 
Reported cases of the successful use of hernial trusses are rare. 
Ivlingan states having succeeded in curing foals by means of a complicated 
bandage; but in all probability much was due to the intervention of Nature. 
(2.) FALSE INGUINAL HERNIA (HERNIA 
INGUINALIS INTERSTITIALIS). 
This term is used to describe inguinal or scrotal hernise where the 
hernial contents lie outside the processus vaginalis. The small intestine 
or rectum, or very occasionally a portion of omentum, pass into the 
inguinal canal or scrotum, not through the inner abdominal ring, but 
through a pathological opening which usually lies close in front of the 
abdominal ring. At this point a lacuna exists in the abdominal muscles 
of the horse, which is filled with connective tissue, and is therefore less 
resistant. This section of the abdominal wall is lined with peritoneum, 
and is considered by Franck to be a tendinous expansion of the oblique 
abdominal muscle; by Schmalz it is termed the inguinal ring. 
After rupture of the peritoneum and of this connective tissue, intestine 
or omentum may pass into the inguinal canal outside of the processus 
vaginalis, a condition which is termed peritoneal-scrotal hernia (fig. 180). 
The condition clearly has a great resemblance to genuine inguinal hernia ; 
but the swelling appears higher up, close under the inguinal ring, because 
the hernial contents are not confined by the processus vaginalis, in con¬ 
sequence of which the base of the hernial sac appears more pointed, and 
may take the form of a peaked night-cap. Taxis is more difficult 
