212 
VENTRAL HERNIA. 
with the costal cartilages of several of the false ribs, and 
through it the intestine had escaped. This circumstance, 
although advantageous after I had reduced the hernia, I 
found added greatly to the difficulty of passing the sutures; 
in fact, I could not pass the needle from without inwards, 
without great risk of piercing the intestine, from the respi¬ 
ratory movements and continued straining of the patient. 
To obviate this I passed my hand—holding the threaded 
needle near its point—under the skin, and then through the 
wound in the muscles into the abdomen, and thrust the 
needle outwards through the whole of the abdominal parietes, 
and passing it between the cartilages, so that the stitches 
might have a firmer hold. I then removed the needle, and 
having placed a bur of leather on the wire, I tied a knot in 
it, drawing it tight by pulling the other end. I proceeded 
in this manner until I had perfectly reduced the hernia. I 
poured a little Lin. Tereb. into the wound, and then let the 
horse up. I then folded a small rug several times double, 
and having dipped it into a pail of cold water placed it over 
the seat of injury, securing it in its position by several 
rollers. After which I placed the horse in a loose box, tied 
him short to prevent his lying down, and gave him 
01. Lini, 3xij; 
Tinct, Opii, §j, in haustus. 
I ordered a spare diet of bran, with a few carrots, and 
directed the rug to be kept constantly wet with cold water. 
The owner being naturally anxious about the case ex¬ 
pressed a wish for a second veterinary surgeon to be consulted, 
to which I consented, and Mr. Joseph Gibbs, of Taunton, 
was sent for. On his arrival, seeing the horse tranquil, and 
the wound closed by the sutures, as a matter of course he 
did not meddle with it, and having expressed his opinion to 
be in coincidence with my own, he left. 
In the evening, perceiving a swelling of the scrotum and 
surrounding parts had commenced, 1 gave a diuretic ball. 
22d.—The horse is tranquil, the pulse is slightly ac¬ 
celerated, and the scrotum, legs, and abdomen swollen. He 
eats what is given him, but has a difficulty in passing his 
faeces. Back-rake, and gave an injection of warm water; 
also, 
Aloes Barb., $ij ; 
Pot. Nit., 5 v j, in bolus. 
23d.—The animal is much the same as yesterday, with 
