Needle punctures should be sealed with collodion. No other dressings are required.
Begin codeine early and use freely when a painful reaction develops.
THE INJECTION OF FEMORAL HERNIA.
The femoral ring is below Poupart's ligament. When the femoral hernia protrudes through the crural canal it is directed upward over Poupart's ligament. To reduce it press the mass toward the feet of the patient and then upward toward the abdominal cavity. The saphenous opening may then be felt. On the outer side of the opening is the large vein of the thigh. The needle should be inserted at the inner extremity of the opening, that is toward the median line. Aspirating of blood may mean the puncture of this large vein and it may not be advisable to inject carelessly when this vein has been wounded owing to its size. The crural canal is only about a half inch in length. The injection of it may be accomplished with a hypodermic needle. It is not well to sweep the point of the needle externally with too
great freedom as the vein may be wounded. Inject slowly and move the point of the syringe carefully so that the injection may be diffused in the canal.
INJECTION OF UMBILICAL HERNIA.
Reduce the hernia and examine the margins of the hernial ring with care so as to be thoroughly acquainted with the character and situation of these margins. Remember that the tissues are often very thin and that an injection in the center of the hernia may simply go through the peritoneum and thus be placed directly in the abdomen. Injections of paraffin into the peritoneal cavity of animals have not proven to be dangerous, the agent not causing irritation of the surface of the peritoneum when sterile.
Umbilical hernia may be injected with a hypodermic needle building out from the margins of the hernial opening, but it is well not to inject with too great freedom. After diffusing the tissues of the canal or ring a pad and binder should be applied and the patient given