Umbilical hernia is a rupture, or unnatural protrusion of the viscera at the navel. The affection is more common among puppies, but may appear at any period of life. When occurring in older dogs it is more often met with in bitches, resulting from large litters and frequent pregnancies.

Various methods of treatment have been suggested, but bandages and other attachments cannot be depended upon, and a surgical operation alone promises certain success.

Mr. Lowe has proposed a method to produce a radical cure of this affection, which is commended as simple, comparatively safe, and easy to perform. He describes the operation as follows : -

"The instruments absolutely needed are a thin, clean, sharp knife, a curved surgeon's needle and silk; also, a little iodoform, and some carbo-lized water. The two latter act as antiseptics, and fill the places of the carbolic spray fairly well. After the patient has been thoroughly etherized, wet the fingers, knife, and needle in the carbolized water, and make a longitudinal cut through the skin down to the sac, but do not injure it. Then push back the parts, and with the knife freshen the edges of the muscle; now after taking two stitches (more if the opening is huge) directly over the sac, draw the edges together, and cut the silk close; sprinkle in a little iodoform, draw the skin together with a stitch or two, and the work is done. If the puppies are as vigorous as those I have operated upon, it will probably be found next morning that the external stitches are out; and also the skin so swollen that the little fellow has been unable to reach the deep stitches, the all important point.

"Keep the puppy in a warm, clean place, but if any dirt should get in wash it out with warm water and castile soap, and sprinkle on a little more iodoform.

"But now about the deep stitches which have been allowed to remain in the muscle. Let them alone, for they cause no trouble as they become in-cysted. In two weeks the cure should be complete, and no scar, or at least, a very trilling one remains".