33

sex, or of constitution, more or less favour-
able to the different forms of hernia.
The foetus in utero, from not having breath-
ed, and other causes, has not been found articl-
ed with hernia. Infants, especiallyin the first
month after birth, if proper pressiire has not
been applied to the part, are extremely liable
to suffer from umbilical hernia. If boys, the
disease is less formidable, and of less conse™
quence, as they commonly outgrow it ; but,
in girls, it often lays the foundation of the
complaint, especially when they become preg-
nant at an after period of life.
Boys are mosl subject to hernia congenita
at or immediately after birth, as the canals
through which the teltes pass into the scrotum
are not always then shut *.
c Dr
* Insants os the semale sex may be afflicted with a species os
hernia congenita, as a canal, sormed by the peritoneum, passes
through the spermatie ring. This canal is about hals an inch
in length, and ends in a cul de sac. Vide Nuck Adenographia.
Dr Camper insorms us, that he sound this canal open only in 3
os 14 semale insants aster birth; and he adds, that he had disco-
vered traces os that canal in women who died during deli-
very. Vid. Acad. Haarlem, tom. vi, and vii,