52 Axi^FAL Castration 



into at least three groups or classes. They were formerly classi- 

 fied by "Farmer" Miles as — 



Xo. 1. Testicles not in scrotum hut in inguinal canal. Such 

 testicles can be felt on deep pressure. ("Low flanker.") 



No. 2. Testicles high up in inguinal canal — too high to be felt 

 even upon deep pressure. ("High flanker.") 



No. 3. Testicles inside abdominal cavity. 



No. 4. Testes inside abdominal cavity with part of the sper- 

 matic cord and sometimes epydidimus protruded through internal 

 abdominal ring into the inguinal canal. 



No. 5. Pathological ("diseased") testicles. 



While the above classiflcation by Miles is not what may be termed 

 anatomically and surgically scientific, it was nevertheless valu- 

 able in arriving at the exact status of a "Ridgiing" case. While 

 acknowledging the value of the work done by my first teacher — 

 "Farmer" Miles — and the usefulness of his classification of ridg- 

 ling horses into Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, nevertheless such classification 

 was crude and in this day of progress and development would not 

 pass muster from a scientific viewpoint. The anatomical classifi- 

 cation possesses mau}^ advantages and will be adhered to in hand- 

 ling this subject. 



]Miles' No. 1 cannot properly be classed as a cryptorchid (" Ridg- 

 ling") in any respect. 



(a) Supra scrotal is a condition where the testicle with sper- 

 matic cord is in the inguinal canal, however too high to he felt 

 even on deep pressure. ("High flanker.") This is the class 

 oftenest encountered in young animals and corresponds with 

 Miles' No. 2. The testicle is usually firm and fairly well developed. 



(b) Intra-abdominal is a condition where the testicles are lo- 

 cated inside the abdominal cavity. This is a genuine cryptorchid 

 ("Ridgling") in fact as well as in name. In such cases the tes- 

 ticles are usually soft and flabby and not of the characteristic 

 shape met with in stallions. This varietv corresponds to Miles' 

 No. 3. 



(c) Intra-inguinal is a condition in which the testes is inside 

 abdominal cavity with a portion of the spermatic cord and some- 

 times epidid}TTius high up in the inguinal canal. (See Fig. 50, 



