A TREATISE ON INGUINAL HERNIi^:. 297 
it our study. We would remind those, however (if any practition¬ 
ers there be), disposed to remain in peaceful ignorance of all this, 
that there are on our surgical records already too many melancholy 
instances in which death has followed the operation of castration, 
in consequence of the operator being unaware of a latent inguinal 
hernia, and his probable total ignorance, or at all events neglect 
of a mode of examination which in certain suspicious cases it was 
his duty to institute, seeing that such a procedure alone could 
guide him in forming a safe diagnosis. For the examination, we 
should certainly prefer the erect to the recumbent posture—afford¬ 
ing as much room as possible for exploration, by extending and 
abducting the hind legs: we prefer this position, because the sim¬ 
ple question in such a case is, whether hernia exists or not; its 
nature and reducibleness become a subsequent consideration. 
Should hernia exist, and not be at once reducible, let us see in 
what manner our author recommends the employment of the taxis. 
The horse is to be thrown upon the opposite side to that disordered ; and, 
after one hindleg has been drawn and fixed forward as for castration, he is to 
be turned upon his back, and in that position maintained by trusses of straw, 
while other trusses are placed under him to raise the croup. With both arms 
well oiled, or covered with some mucilaginous decoction, the operator will 
now commence his exploration, taking the precaution of emptying the rec¬ 
tum as he proceeds. As soon as he shall have ascertained that it is a case of 
hernia, and assured himself that the gut protruded through the ring is 
undergoing neither stricture nor strangulation, he may endeavour to dis¬ 
engage the hernial part, by softly drawing it inward within the cavity, at the 
same time pushing it in the same direction with the hand within the sheath. 
Should he experience much difficulty in these attempts, he is to desist, 
violence being too often the forerunner of strangulation and gangrene. 
He must bear in mind, also, that although the reduction is effected, unless 
it be followed by immediate castration, it does not always prove to be a 
cure for bubonocele: the protrusion recurs after a time, and occasionally 
even the moment the animal has risen. 
Should it so happen that the hernia reappears ^Hhe moment the 
animal has risen,’’ we apprehend that the performance of castra¬ 
tion would be an operation rather to be regretted than otherwise; 
for, should the protruded viscus by any chance descend into 
the scrotum, the latter being open at the time, what might such 
an unfortunate event lead to ? Would it not be more advisable, 
in the case of reduction having been effected, to defer the opera¬ 
tion of castration until the stability of such reduction could be 
determined on ? 
The hernial tumour is soft, more or less voluminous, and is either elastic 
and salient under the pressure of the fingers, or else possesses consistence 
and weight; and fluctuates or piths, according as it contains gaseous or ster¬ 
coral matters, the latter giving it at times a solid, irregular, lumpy feel. 
When the gut is so closely embraced at the neck of its peritoneal sheath 
2 M 
