CASTRATION 



173 



Fig. 516. —Castrating Knife 



penis and scrotum are now thoroughly cleansed with soap and water, 

 and freely anointed with carbolized oil or vaseline, so that in the event 

 of any considerable swelling following the operation, the penis may 

 be extruded without difficulty in the 

 act of urination. While this is being 

 done, the scrotum is examined for 

 possible hernia or malformation, and 

 having satisfied himself that all is 

 normal, the operator seizes the testicle 

 in the left hand, and drawing the skin 

 tightly over it, proceeds to lay open 

 the scrotum with a bold long sweep 

 of the knife (fig. 510), which shall by 

 one stroke divide the common integu- 

 ment and investing membranes. He will choose the under testicle first, 

 as the second operation will not then be so much obscured by blood as 

 when the reverse order is pursued. The gland, having been freed from 

 the purse, is firmly grasped, and the action of the cremaster 

 muscle, which tends to draw it back again into the scrotum, is 

 steadily resisted. Any attachment which may 

 be found to exist between the testicle and the 

 investing membrane is divided by the knife, 

 until the gland is clear of everything but the 

 cord. A clamp or forceps made for the 

 purpose (fig. 518) is then placed upon the 

 latter, and either locked by a hook or serrated 

 catch at the end, or firmly held by the oper- 

 ator, while in the right hand he holds a red- 

 hot iron, with which the cord is divided by 

 a gentle sawing movement of the instru- 

 ment. 



To prevent haemorrhage from the sper- 

 matic artery a little powdered resin is dusted 

 on to the divided extremity of the cord, and 

 a somewhat cooler iron is then employed to 

 Fi g . 517.— sea j U p £] ie vessel. 



Castrating J - 



iron The majority of castrators employing this 



ancient but truly asejDtic method also adopt 

 the precaution of smearing the clamp, and afterwards anointing the in- 

 terior of the purse with an ointment composed of verdigris, Venice tur- 

 pentine, and bees'-wax, with the object of preventing too rapid healing 



Fig. 518. — Clamp for 

 Castration by Firing 



