418 A TREATISE ON INGUINAL HERNIiE. 
hend a return of the hernia, either from previous attacks of colic 
or the enlarged condition of the ring, M. Girard recommends cer¬ 
tain precautions : such as keeping the animal down, and upon his 
back, for an hour or two, to give the gut time to resume its pro¬ 
per place and position; and, after he has risen, to put him into a 
stable so prepared that his hind parts may be elevated considerably 
beyond the fore ; and to give him nothing but straw and water- 
gruel for food. lie advises us also to draw blood; administer 
enemae; foment the belly ; and use injections; according as there 
is any appearance of abdominal disorder. In cases of difficulty, 
or in which there are symptoms of colic or strangulation, we shall 
have occasion to bleed, and largely too, before we set about em¬ 
ploying the taxis. Our author mentions one case in which the 
hernia, which had before constantly returned, was retained by a 
T bandage; but the gut, at last, became strangulated by neg¬ 
lecting the bandage while the animal was at work. Of the three 
tails of this bandage, which was made of calf’s leather, two came 
round the sides, embracing the flanks; the third passed back¬ 
ward, and terminated in a sort of crouper, which embraced the 
root of the tail, and joined the two lateral parts. 
Mr. W. Percivalfmentions a case in his Lecturesin which 
the hernial tumour was blistered with apparent advantage; and 
when we come to learn the inapplicability of bandages and com¬ 
presses of all kinds, we may be inclined, in the midst of difficulties 
and dangers, to make trial of so simple a remedy. 
IL—OF THE OPERATION IN GENERAL. 
« 
Concerning which M. Girard informs us, that 
Chronic enterocele (which consists in a dilatation of the inguinal aper¬ 
tures), hernia re-appearing after reduction by the taxis, and all herniae irre¬ 
ducible either on account of their volume or stricture at the neck of the sac, 
or any other circumstance, require a surgical operation more or less compli¬ 
cated, according to the nature of the case: sometimes consisting simply in 
the division of the stricture, but oftener demanding (subsequent) castration 
to render the reduction eflfectuai and permanent. 
fl.—OPERATION FOR CHRONIC ENTEROCELE IN 
STONE-HORSES. 
This being the simplest form of operation, and many directions 
for it being applicable to others, our author speaks of it first. 
Of these herniae, some are reducible by the taxis; otheis, irreducible J 
their reduction, however, rarely proves but temporary; the operation of cas¬ 
tration (a testicule convert) being required to complete the cure. Again, 
the hernia itself may be simple; or it may be complicated with hydrocele, 
sarcocele, varicocele, or adhesion. 
* Vide Vol. II, page 60 , in a Note. 
