66 AxiMAi. Castration 



and suture skin incision securely with uninterrupted suture. 

 Packing the scrotum cannot do any harm and there is a possi- 

 bility, in fact a pro])a1)ility, of tins precaution saving the life of 

 a patient. Especially is this true should colicky pains ensue within 



Fig. 49— Testicle of a "Ridgling" Horse. 



twelve hours after operating, in which event the rolling and tumh- 

 ling of the animal w^ould have a tendency to cause l^owel protru- 

 sion. As a precautionary measure I cannot too strongly recom- 

 mend i^acking the scrotum before the animal is allowed to rise 

 to his feet. If a monorchid, your job is completed ; if a cryptorchid, 

 turn the animal over and proceed to repeat the operation on the 

 other side without delay. Never attempt to remove both testicles 

 from the one abdominal opening, as in doing so it is necessary to 

 enlarge the opening sufficiently to admit the wdiole hand; such a 

 large abdominal wall perforation is dangerous and such procedure 

 would be considered bad practice. 



T)ifra-Iu</iii)i(ir'Fi(JgU)ig/' 



This is the variety in wdiich the testicle (testes) is inside the 

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

 times the epydidimus is in upper part of the inguinal canal, of 

 course surrounded by the tunica vaginalis. (See Fig. 50.) This 

 coi'responds to Miles' No. 4. 



This is the class which is calculated to confuse the inexperienced 

 operator. 



Objects and indications, age, season, preparation, restraint, ]^osi- 

 tion, instruments, anatomy, washing, sterilization of instruments, 

 cleansing operator's hands and disinfection of operative field are 

 all the same as are emi)loyed in castrating the intra-abdominal 

 ridgling. 



