380 
J. C. MEYER, «TR. 
STRANGULATED INGUINAL HERNIA. 
By J. C. Meyer, Jr., M.D., Y.S. 
The October number of the .Review contains the report of a 
case of strangulated hernia, by C. II. Peabody, D. Y.S. , which 
arouses my interest in this direction particularly, on the ground 
of having had a recent case of the same disorder to come under 
my observation, a description of which I will now communicate 
in order to urge the necessity of timely surgical interference to 
rescue the usually valuable property (stallions) that chiefly 
become the victims of this horrible accident. 
September 30th. 1882, at 3 p. m., I was summoned to visit a 
valuable stallion at Erlangen, Ky., that had been driven on the 
preceding evening from Covington, Ky., a distance of nine miles, 
for the purpose of preparing him for fairs. lie arrived at the 
designated place at 7 p. m., when he exhibited abdominal pains 
for the first time in his life, having attained the age of six years. 
The trainer administered what lie considered appropriate in the 
treatment of a case of colic during the night and until noon of 
the next day, when he recognized his failure to manage the case. 
After preparing myself with instruments, etc., 1 reached the 
patient at 5 p. m., when 1 found him standing in a box stall, his 
head elevated, with an anxious expression, his body covered with 
cold perspiration and trembling. lie was moving forward and 
backward in a staggering manner. Eructations of gases and 
food from the stomach were observed. His pulse numbered 110 
per minute and faint, his respiration rapid, and temperature 103. 
I had his left hind limb abducted, so as to allow an easy manipu¬ 
lation of his scrotum. The scrotum was shriveled up, covered 
with a cold, clammy sweat. His left spermatic cord was of a 
natural size; the right, on the contrary, was enlarged, firm and 
painful on pressure. This furnished suspicious evidence of 
strangulated hernia. I then made a rectal examination and found 
the pelvis well filled with distended small intestines, one 
portion of which extending into the inguinal canal and being 
firmly held there. Owing to the distended condition of the 
bowels, it was impossible to handle them with a view of extri¬ 
cating the constricted portion, so I procured a short aspirator 
