ASEPTIC CASTRATION. 223 



procedure. Handiness and cleanliness exercise a marked influence on 

 the success of operation. As regards cleanliness, one can never be too 

 thorough, and although complete asepsis may not be secured, cleanli- 

 ness, nevertheless, remains an important factor in ensuring success. 



(f) Aseptic Castration.^As was to be expected, soon after the 

 theory of antisepsis became popular, experiments were made to ensure 

 castration wounds healing by primary intention. Bayer first approached 

 this problem in 1881, and was followed at a later date by Frick. 

 Bayer had four successful results among fifteen horses operated upon. 

 At that time he simply divided the cord and ligatured bleeding vessels, 

 but frequently had secondary bleeding owing to the vessels escaping 

 from the ligatures. He then resorted to simple ligation of the entire 

 cord. Here also he had healing by first intention, but the horse was 

 often compelled to lie down soon after operation on account of 

 enormous swelling of the scrotum. In every instance he found that 

 the ligature had slipped off. In one instance he noted the accident 

 occurring. At every pulsation of the spermatic artery the ligature 

 yielded, at first almost imperceptibly, afterwards at a faster rate. 

 When the ligature was held with the finger the cord was drawn out of 

 the loop. For this reason he now transfixes the cord and ligates it in 

 two parts. Frick had seven successes among twelve cases. Guttman 

 castrated two horses, two boars, two dogs, and a goat with antiseptic 

 precautions, in each case obtaining healing by primary intention. 

 Plosz was equally successful with six stallions. 



One must not forget, however, that observance of the necessary 

 principles of asepsis is much more difficult in private practice than in 

 clinical institutions. Moller operated several times, but with varying 

 results. The animals should be prepared, cast, and anaesthetised as 

 above described. The necessary arrangements having been made, and 

 the hands, instruments, and ligatures sterilised, the first step consists 

 in thoroughly disinfecting the field of operation. The scrotum and its 

 surroundings are carefully washed with soap and water, rubbed with 

 alcohol, and rinsed with sublimate or other disinfecting solution. The 

 upper hind limb and the hobbles restraining it should be moistened 

 with a wet sponge, to prevent hairs falling on the operation wound. 

 The other precautions are similar to those suggested in connection 

 with antiseptic operations. 



The operator first grasps the right testicle, presses it towards the 

 base of the scrotum, incises the tunica dartos and tunica vaginalis, 

 though not to the same extent as previously indicated, and allows 

 the testicle to protrude. Having secured this, he ligatures the 

 spermatic cord with two or three ligatures, according to its thickness. 



