REPORTS OF CASES. 
A CASE OF VENTRAL HERNIA. 
By C. A. Cary, Dean of Veterinary College of Alabama Polytechnic Institute, 
Auburn, Ala. 
On November 30, 1909, a sorrel mare 12-14 years old came 
to the free clinic of the veterinary medical college of Alabama 
Polytechnic Institute. Three to four weeks previous to this time 
she received an injury a little to the left of median line, just back 
of umbilicus six or seven inches. A very large hernia appeared, 
the swelling covering almost the entire abdomen. This hernia 
presented some of the symptoms of a rupture of the pre-pubic 
tendon. The teats were advanced, the back swayed, the anus 
was pulled forward, and the immense enlargement indicated pre- 
pubic hernia. But there was no edema around it. For diagnostic 
purposes the mare was thrown and turned upon her back, and an 
attempt at reduction was made without success. Pushing the 
mobile contents of the skin and sack to one side, the abdominal 
wall could be felt along the borders of the rib cartilages and also 
at the pubic border; but the visible movements of the flanks dur¬ 
ing inspiration and expiration led one to believe that the pre- 
pubic "tendon was not broken loose and that the rent was not 
large. Rectal examination also proved that the pre-pubic tendon 
was intact. 
This mare was given one ounce of chloral hydrate at 1 p. m.; 
at 2.30, mare was cast, given chloroform, turned upon her back, 
abdomen cleaned and an opening through the skin and tunica 
near the injury-mark was made. Some three gallons of serum 
escaped. The hernial opening was 7 to 8 inches long and parallel 
with the rectus muscle fibres. A portion of the small intestine, 
the caecum and floating colon were in the hernial sack. These 
were replaced. The edges of hernial opening were pared away 
to produce raw fresh surfaces; then the edges were brought to¬ 
gether with No. 19 silk thread, using interrupted sutures. The 
large fold of skin was left intact, and the skin opening was closed 
with interrupted silk sutures, leaving a small place for drainage. 
The mare was helped up, and a broad cotton pack was placed 
over the region of the rupture and over this a broad abdomen 
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