300 
TREATMENT OF PERINEAL HERNIA. 
Causes and progress. Continuous contraction of the abdominal 
muscles, difficult labours, heavy draught, walking on the hind-legs (dog), 
and standing with the hind-quarters low (cows), are known to favour 
production of perineal hernia, but its immediate cause is a mystery. It 
may exist for long periods without causing trouble, for, on account of 
the great width of the hernial opening, incarceration is exceedingly 
rare, though, according to Stockfleth, it sometimes impedes delivery 
in ewes, because the vagina is pressed into the hernial sac during the 
pains, and becomes bent at an angle. Cows with this disease should 
not be used for breeding. In Frick’s case (see p. 299) assistance was 
Fig. 131. 
required to deliver the calf as the fore-legs became fixed in the 
hernial sac. 
Treatment. As a preventive measure, cows should not be placed 
with the fore feet higher than the hind. Unless strangulation occurs, 
all treatment should be avoided; the difficulties during labour are said 
to be lessened by dilating the vagina. Another reason for avoiding 
operation is that the hernial contents are often attached to the sac, 
a condition indicated by the latter being markedly drawn inwards 
when the hind-quarters are raised. Should incarceration necessitate 
operation, or the owner desire it, the animal is chloroformed, an incision 
made under antiseptic precautions, and the hernial sac ligatured in 
sections, that is, if the contents of the sac are clearly non-adherent. 
Otherwise the inner coats must be cautiously cut through, the intestine 
or bladder separated, the sac brought together with several stitches, and 
the skin first shortened sufficiently and then sutured. A case treated 
in the Dresden clinique shows that it is possible to effect a cure, even 
