148 CASE OF STRANGULATED ABDOMINAL HERNIA. 
subside, but this was supposed to be in consequence of effusion 
of blood from the wound in the parietes of the abdomen. A 
roller was applied, and the colt seemed relieved. 
Three days afterwards I was again desired to attend, as the 
swelling had grown to an enormous size : it now filled the whole 
flank, and extended considerably along the belly, but was quite 
soft and fluctuating, and no intestine was to be felt. I was 
afraid it might be a protrusion of a portion of the caecum, or an 
effusion of blood from some ruptured artery. 
The colt was again thrown upon his back; but at this time 
the hernia could not be reduced, and an operation was therefore 
necessary. I made an incision through the skin in order to 
examine the nature of the case, when a large quantity of water 
made its escape from the cavity of the tumour and belly, which 
made the assistants exclaim that “ I had cut into its puddings ” 
I was even myself afraid; but, on further examination, it was 
found that the water had proceeded from the cavity of the abdo¬ 
men, in which an effusion of full ten quarts of water had taken 
place. A portion of omentum likewise protruded from the 
wound, and which was highly inflamed, and vascular. This 
was immediately and carefully returned, and the wound closed 
b y three stitches. Portions of the abdominal muscles, which 
had been torn, apparently by some blunt-pointed instrument, 
as the horn of an ox, yet which had not broken the skin, 
were brought together and united in the same way. A roller was 
now applied, and orders given to remove it daily, and cleanse 
and bathe the wound with warm water. A fluid continued to 
escape for several days after, but the wound gradually healed, 
and in a few weeks the animal was again sent to grass. 
Six weeks afterwards I was again sent for, in consequence of a 
swelling having appeared upon the same place. On examination 
I found it to have been an abscess, which had burst upon the 
upper part of the tumour and within the flank, leaving a small 
fistulous opening into the belly, and from it a discharge of matter 
issued, having the smell of the intestinal excretion. I made an 
opening in the under part of the tumour, and passed a seton needle 
armed with tape deep among the muscles, directing its point to 
the higher opening, and thus forming a communication with the 
two, and securing a good dependent issue. The fistula was 
syringed out daily with a solution of sulphate of zinc. The tu¬ 
mour gradually disappeared, and the part is again whole. 
