ANIMAL CASTRATION. 25 



cord when long enough continued to overcome the 

 tenacity of its fibres. Fifteen or twenty turns of the 

 organ will usually be found sufficient to effect the 

 rupture. A considerable degree of strength in the 

 fingers is required in this movement, and for this 

 reason the torsion may take effect further up than 

 may be desired, and beyond the point designed, 

 which may result in an unnecessary amount of irri- 

 tation and injury. When the torsion has gone so far 

 that the rupture of the cord has been effected, the 

 stump is released, and retracts in the inguinal canal 

 to a certain height limited by the presence of the 

 posterior septum, which holds it in place, and to a 

 great extent prevents its return through the superior 

 orifice of the inguinal canal. 



Below the Epididymis. This, the fourth step of the 

 operation, consists in the separation of the testicle 

 from the epididymis and the torsion of one upon the 

 other. The testicle being exposed, the operator, 

 taking hold of its appendix, the epididymis, with the 

 left hand, and of the gland with the right, their cellu- 

 lar serous attachment is divided by the thumbs from 

 the posterior to the anterior extremity, from the tail 

 to the head of the twisted efferent canal. If this 

 cannot be done with the hand, the convex bistoury 

 must be called into action. This accomplished, the 

 head of the epididymis is firmly secured with the 

 fingers of the left hand, and the right hand, left free, 

 gives to the testicle the number of rotatory motions 

 necessary to separate it from its excretory canal 

 that is, from eight to ten. When the testicle is thus 



