ANIMAL CASTRATION. 45 



the prehension of the gland which corresponds with 

 the side the lower upon which the animal is lying. 

 This obviates any danger of interference by any little 

 hemorrhage which might occur, and so facilitates the 

 application of the clamps. Then, placing himself 

 toward the back of the patient, the operator reaches 

 over and grasps the lower testicle with both hands, 

 bringing it downwards in such a manner as to stretch 

 the scrotum over its surface. This manipulation is 

 not always of easy performance, the contraction of 

 the cremaster muscle being sometimes so powerful 

 that the gland successfully resists all the operator's 

 efforts of traction. It is sometimes necessary to di- 

 vert the attention of the animal, in order to facilitate 

 this part of the process, by pricking him with a pin 

 on the lips or about the anus, the effect of the new 

 sensation being such that his opposition is withdrawn? 

 and the contraction ceasing, he suffers passively the 

 traction of the envelopes over the organ. Or, the 

 same advantage may be obtained by the inhalation 

 of a little ether or chloroform. Then grasping the 

 cord with the left hand and bringing the organ well 

 forward, the surgeon proceeds to the 



Second step, or that of the incision of the envelope. 

 Holding the sharp convex bistoury in his right hand, 

 he takes, with the thumb, a point dappui upon the 

 prominent organ, and carries it carefully over the 

 surface of the scrotum in a direction parallel with 

 the median raphe (described in the first chapter), and 

 following the great curvature of the testicle, and be- 

 ing careful with the first movement of the instru- 



