an here be felt entering the internal abdominal ring.

_Treatment of inguinal hernia._--If the reader is sure of the existence
of hernia, he should secure the horse upon its back, and, with a hand in
the rectum, endeavor to catch hold of the wandering bowel and pull it
gently back into the cavity of the abdomen. Pressure should be made upon
the scrotum during this time. If this fails, a veterinarian must be
called to reduce the hernia by means of incising the inguinal ring,
replacing the intestines, and to castrate, using clamps and performing
the "covered operation."

VENTRAL HERNIA.--In this form of hernia the protrusion is through some
accidental opening or rupture of the abdominal wall. It may occur at any
part of the belly except at the umbilicus, and is caused by kicks,
blows, hooks, severe jumping or pulling, etc. Ventral hernia is most
common in pregnant mares, and is here due to the weight of the fetus or
to some degenerative changes taking place in the abdominal coats. It is
recognized by the appearance of a swelling, at the base of which can be
felt the opening or rent in the abdominal tunics, and from the fact that
the swelling containing the intestines can be made to disappear when the
animal is placed in a favorable position.

_Treatment of ventral hernia._--In many instances there is no occasion
for treatment, and again, where the hernial sac is extensive, treatment
is of no avail. If the hernia is small, a cure may be attempted by the
methods to be described in treating of umbilical hernia. If one is
fortunate enough to be present when the hernia occurs, and particularly
if it is not too large, he may, by the proper application of a pad and
broad bandage, effect a perfect cure.

UMBILICAL HERNIA is the passing of any portion of the bowel or omentum
("caul") through the navel, forming a "tumor" at this point. This is
often congenital in our animals, and is due to the imperfect closure of
the umbilicus and to the position of the body. Many cases of umbilical
hernia, like inguinal and scrotal of the congenital kind, disappear
entirely by the time the animal reaches its second or third year.
Advancing age favors cure in these cases from the fact that the omentum
(swinging support of the bowels) is proportionally shorter in adults
than in foals, thus lifting the intestines out of the hernial sac and
allowing the opening in the walls to close. Probably one of the most
frequent causes of umbilical hernia in