"THE COVERED OPERATION." 217 



fection of the parts is thus favoured, leading at a later stage to com- 

 plications like scirrhous cord, or to severe inflammatory processes. 

 This is more likely to occur in weakly animals, for which reason the 

 clams selected should be very light, and should be placed as high as 

 conveniently possible ; they may also be supported by two or three 

 sutures passed through the edges of the scrotal wound. Regarding 

 removal of the clams we shall later give directions. 



{b) For castration without exposure of the testicle (the covered 

 operation) the animals are prepared and cast in precisely the same 

 fashion as before described. The operator first grasps the left (lower) 

 testicle or spermatic cord, taking particular care that the scrotum is 

 tightly stretched over the testicle. The incision is at the same point, 

 but is made very long, dividing, however, only the skin and tunica 

 dartos, and exposing the loose connective tissue, which lies between 

 the latter and the common vaginal sheath.* The edges of the wound 

 open widely when the incision reaches this layer. By light cautious 

 strokes with the knife this tissue is divided in the longitudinal axis of 

 the testicle until the tunica vaginalis reflexa, readily recognised by its 

 gre\ish-blue colour, is exposed. The knife is then discarded, the 

 operator grasps the testicle with the right hand and with the left 

 endeavours to free the tunica dartos, etc., from the tunica vaginalis 

 reflexa sufficiently far for a clam to be applied to the spermatic cord 

 above the epididymis. The connective tissue should, if possible, be 

 entirely stripped away from the exposed portion of the tunica vaginalis, 

 not only to facilitate application of the clam, but to prevent infectious 

 sequelse. Before the clam is applied the operator must once more 

 convince himself by manipulation of the common vaginal sheath 

 that only the spermatic cord is present. The clam, which must be 

 somewhat larger than that used in the last operation, is applied 

 as before described, care being taken that it includes the whole 

 of the spermatic cord. After carefully tying the clam, the testicle 

 and base of the processus vaginalis are removed with scissors. 

 The second testicle is removed in a similar way, the parts are 

 cleansed, the clams arranged as before described, and the sheath 

 drawn forwards. The horse is then allowed to rise. The after-treat- 

 ment is as above described. 



A modification of this method recently introduced by Degive 



* "Common vaginal sheath" and "processus vaginalis communis " are surgical terms 

 authorised by the Berne Anatomical Congress to describe the three adherent layers 

 described in Professor McFadyean's 'Anatomy' as (i) spermatic fascia; (2) cremasteric 

 fascia; and (j) infundibuliform fascia. See also note on "Anatomy" at the commencement 

 of this chapter. 



