30 A TREATISE ON INGUINAL HERNI^E. 
vessels diminish; as well as the vas deferens, which contain; 
nothing but a colourless shiny matter. 
Our author informs us, that, in geldings, 
“ Inguinal hernia takes the same course, is susceptible of the same termina 
tions, and requires the same treatment as in stone-horses. Truss bandage? 
are all ineffectual: a surgical operation is the only means of contracting the 
neck of the inguinal passage or closing it altogether ; and all that is neces¬ 
sary to effect this, is the application of clams (no cutting being required) on 
the outside of the skin, the same as is practised for exomphalus. 
“ The taxis is to be employed, and will be so with most effect by the ope¬ 
rator (the horse lying upon his back) extending the hernial sheath with one 
hand, while he manipulates with the other; or, should this fail, by instruct¬ 
ing his assistant to hold up the hernial mass from the belly, so as to take its 
pressure off the ring, and thus give him an opportunity to renew his efforts 
with more effect. In some cases, the introduction of one hand into the 
rectum becomes necessary. The reduction of the hernia should be followed 
up immediately by the application of the clams; takingcare, at the time, to 
draw out the part of the scrotum to which the vaginal sheath is adherent, 
and to push up the clams as close as possible to the belly; which are then to 
be closed, as for castration. 
“ Should the enterocele prove irreducible, we must proceed to open the 
sac, and, having with the finger ascertained the nature of the stricture, set 
about releasing the gut by incision, according to the rules of practice for 
recent strangulated hernia. After reduction, the clams are to be applied 
upon the chord, with the precaution that the opening made in the sac be 
included.’* 
c.—OPERATION FOR RECENT STRANGULATED 
ENTEROCELE. 
The man who undertakes an operation such as the one of which 
we are presently to render an account, without that confidence 
which conscious acquirements and experience never fails to en¬ 
gender, and without those steady precautions at every step which 
the nicety and importance of the case demand, will probably have 
to rue the day on which such an occurrence fell under his manage¬ 
ment. Let those who would persuade the veterinary pupil that 
“ he knows enough of anatomy, if he can barely enumerate the 
bones and muscles,” and that “ the diseases of the horse are few 
and easily understood,” blush with shame at these excellent 
accounts of hernia, and with shame confess that they themselves 
know u little or nothing about the matter,” as such unjustifiable 
observations naturally lead us to believe. The intention of this 
operation is twofold:—1st, To remove the obstruction to the 
return of the gut into the belly; 2dly, to set up an obstruction to 
its descent again into the scrotum. For the accomplishment of 
this, the several objects presented to the operator’s view are—to 
open the hernial sac; to ascertain the seat and nature of the 
stricture ; to divide the stricture; to reduce the hernia ; and, if re¬ 
quired, to finish with castration. The instruments proper to be 
