296 
TREATMENT OF INGUINAL HERNIA IN SWINE. 
difficult in castrated animals than in boars. The second testicle may 
be removed at the same time. Stockfleth recommends examining 
the abdominal ring first; when this is too small to admit the finger, 
the usual method of castration may be adopted, otherwise the covered 
operation is preferable. In double-sided perineal herniae in sucking 
pigs, both testicles may thus be simultaneously removed. 
Imminger describes the following method which he has practised for 
thirty years. In uncastrated sucking pigs the scrotum is opened as in 
the covered method, and under antiseptic precautions ; the testicle, 
together with the spermatic cord and common vaginal tunic, is then 
twisted around its long axis, forming a spiral, whilst the left hand, 
inserted into the canal, assists the operation. As soon as the twisting 
has extended as far as the outer abdominal ring the hernial contents will 
be found to have returned to the abdominal cavity, and the spermatic 
cord, still covered by the common vaginal sheath, is ligatured with silk 
as close to the outer abdominal ring as possible. The ligatures should 
not be drawn too tight. The skin wound is sutured. 
Imminger uses a similar method in inguinal hernia in bitches. 
Should the hernial contents be adherent to the sac, or should the pig 
have been castrated and an abscess have formed in consequence, the 
common vaginal tunic is opened, the adhesion broken down or the 
abscess opened, and the operation completed as above. 
Old ruptured boars are castrated by the covered operation, clams 
being used, and either left until they fall off spontaneously, which occurs 
in one to two weeks, or after a similar time removed. The clams, 
which should be rather small, and applied as high as possible, must 
be used on both sides, even though the rupture be only one-sided. 
Degive opens the processus vaginalis to make sure of the complete 
return of the bowel, and applies the clams as high as possible. 
After operation, the animals are placed in a dry stall provided with 
clean straw, and for some time receive short rations. Local treatment 
is not necessary, nor, on account of the excitement of the animals, is it 
to be recommended. 
Stockfleth saw a case of peritoneal scrotal hernia in a boar; on 
operating, the bowel was found outside the processus vaginalis. He 
therefore enlarged the skin wound, replaced the hernial contents, and 
ligatured the inner coats of the hernia (which consisted of firm con¬ 
nective tissue) at the same time as the tunica vaginalis. The animal 
made a good recovery. The case shows that, in opening the hernial 
sac, care must be taken to avoid injuring the bowel, in case a rupture 
of this sort should exist. Storch describes a hernia, involving the uterus, 
one of the Fallopian tubes, and one of the ovaries, in a sow ; the hernia 
(inguinal) formed a long, oval swelling as large as a child’s head. 
