40 ANIMAL CASTRATION. 



absolutely superior to all others, is possessed of 

 qualities and advantages which all who have em- 

 ployed it will freely acknowledge. 



It is performed in two ways. One is the process of 

 the covered, the other of the uncovered testicle. The 

 covered operation is that in which only a portion of 

 the testicular envelopes are divided, the scrotum and 

 the dartos, the gland being left covered with the other 

 envelopes. On the other hand, in the uncovered 

 operation, all the enveloping membranes are divided, 

 and the testicle is made to protrude outside of the 

 vaginal sac. The first three steps of this mode of 

 operating are understood to have been performed in 

 the methods which we have already considered as 

 generally preliminary in all cases, in order to obtain 

 access to the cord. 



The instruments necessary to operate in this case 

 are a very sharp convex bistoury, a pair of clamps, 

 some strong twine, a castrating forceps and a pair of 

 scissors. The clamps are wooden or metallic pincers, 

 formed to embrace the cord and to be applied firmly 

 upon it, in order to hold it securely, and to confine 

 the artery tightly enough to prevent the occurrence 

 of hemorrhage. The form most ordinarily used, and 

 probably most convenient, is made of wood, and con- 

 sists of two semi-cylindrical pieces (Fig. 10) joined at 

 one end and resting together by a flat and sometimes 

 grooved surface, and measuring about six inches in 

 length. The material is a light but strong wood. 

 They are rounded at the extremities, in order to avoid 

 chafing the soft tissues. A groove at each end is de- 



