92 PURE BRED DRAFT HORSES 
before to behind. The size of the hernial ring varies greatly according 
. . . individual; ... in the foal 1 to 6 inches in diameter. 
“In some cases the intestine occupying the hernial sac may contain 
hard, firm masses of feces, which render the hernia hard and firm. Such 
fecal matter is not readily pushed through the ring into the abdominal 
cavity. 
“The contents of the hernia may become incarcerated or strangulated, 
and induce thereby symptoms differing very materially from those which 
have already been described. If the hernial contents consist of intestines, 
and strangulation occurs, the tumor at once becomes very tense and hard, 
and is more or less enlarged as compared with its previous condition, 
and the animal shows severe pain, expressed by violent colic. The 
hernia may also be sensitive to the touch. 
“When the hernial contents consist of omentum, and it becomes in¬ 
carcerated, the tumor becomes tense and indolent, cannot be reduced, and 
induces no pain upon palpation. 
“. . . The prognosis of umbilic hernia is favorable. Many cases 
especially small herniae in foals, recover spontaneously, and the others 
may be surgically overcome with comparative certainty and safety. If 
left undisturbed, umbilic herniae rarely become incarcerated or other¬ 
wise interfere with the well-being of the animal. If the hernial ring is 
small, when the animal develops and the intestines increase in size, they 
cannot pass through the opening. If the hernial contents consist of 
omentum, when the animal grows older, the omental expanse becomes 
comparatively retracted and no longer reaches the open umbilic ring. 
Although the ring may persist throughout the life of the animal, the 
hernial sac no longer becomes filled and is not noticeable. The greatest 
loss attributable to the defect, is the decreased value of pedigreed animals 
for breeding purposes, because of the well-marked tendency to transmis¬ 
sion.” Williams. 48 
Persistent Urachus 
Causes. “Somewhat rarely the urachus remains open after birth; how 
rarely is not clear. We have not personally observed this condition. It 
is probably very rare. 
“A more common condition is the reopening of the urachus in cases 
of umbilic infection owing to a destruction of the tissues which has oc¬ 
cluded the ruptured end of the canal at the time of birth. This con¬ 
dition we have observed only in the foal. Fleming asserts that persist¬ 
ent urachus is most frequently observed in the foal, because the vessel 
is closely attached to the umbilic ring and does not become retracted. 
However, so far as we have obesrved, the urachus retracts promptly 
when the cord is ruptured, and does not protrude beyond the umbilicus 
except in the cases where the cord has been ligated and then excised. 
“Symptoms. The symptoms of perforate urachus may be divided into 
two groups, according to causes. 
“1. In cases where the urachus is for some reason abnormally open, 
or has become in some way abnormally divided, or if the meatus urinarius 
is constricted or absent, the young animal, in urinating, discharges a 
large part or all of the urine through the navel. If the urethra is 
closed, the entire amount must flow through the navel; while, if the 
normal passage is open, a part of the urine may flow from each opening. 
“2. When the urachus becomes secondarily re-opened, as a consequence 
of umbilic infection, the discharge of urine through the navel is not very 
great in amount, but dribbles away or flows in a very small stream dur¬ 
ing urination, and perhaps oozes somewhat continuously from the navel, 
keeping the region soiled, moist and fetid. In some cases the navel is 
inflamed, and may be swollen, or the patient may show well-defined 
