DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY. 
43 
FIVE INCHES OF BROKEN RIB REMOVED. 
By A. W. Baker, V. S., Brasher Falls, N. Y. 
A gray gelding, weighing 1400 pounds, was working on a 
new railroad at Tupper Fake, and in blasting part of a stone 
struck the horse’s side, about seven inches from the backbone 
and on the ninth rib. It required a railroad ride of 64 miles 
and a drive of 8 miles to reach the place, and by the time I ar¬ 
rived the injured parts were quite badly swollen. An examina¬ 
tion showed the rib broken. Although I thought it useless to 
try to save the horse, the owner insisted upon an effort being 
made, as he was an exceptionally valuable animal. I removed 
about five inches and a half of the broken rib, and he made a 
good recovery, but a small scar and a depression remaining as 
evidence of the accident. 
A PEACENTAE COMPLICATION. 
By Francis AbelE, V. S., Quincy, Mass. 
Was called to remove placenta from cow. It was the first 
retained one that this liian had ever had on his place. What 
was outside appeared “ ripe ” and hung low. There seemed to 
be a second short section. Felt in, but could not follow it. 
Fost it at cervix. Then discovered that there was a small rent 
in cervix through which the small end of placenta had pene¬ 
trated, thus holding the heavy end in check. I cut short end 
up close and removed both at once. 
DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY. 
By E. A. and E. Merileat, 
of the McKillip Veterinary College , Chicago , III. 
TRAUMATIC VENTRAL HERNIA. 
No part of veterinary kelology is more important than that 
of ventral hernia, the exposing and predisposing causes of which 
are legion in domestic mammals. 
An abdominal hernia is called “ ventral ” when it occurs 
independent of the natural orifices. As to contents they are 
generally enterocele, epiplocele, or hepatocele. In rare cases 
they are splenocele or hysterocele. As to cause they are proba¬ 
bly always traumatic, although Hertwig claimed they might 
result from congenital deformities of the abdominal paries. If 
