226 OPERATIVE TECHNIQUE. 



The operation is usually performed in the standing position ; only 

 old vicious bulls are cast. For operation in the standing position the 

 animal is tied up as short and as strongly as possible, a bull holder is 

 applied, and a fore foot lifted. The hind feet may, if necessary, be 

 secured by a rope passed around the neck, though this is seldom 

 necessary. One or two strong assistants may be placed on either side 

 of the quarters to prevent the animal moving laterally. 



The operator stands behind the animal, grasping the scrotum with 

 the left hand. When castrating with clams, he incises the base of the 

 scrotum and the tunica vaginalis, applies the clams as in the horse, and 

 removes the testicle. The clams are left in position for twenty-four hours, 

 or even longer, but animals may be allowed to lie down before this. 



Division of the spermatic cord with the actual cautery is performed 

 as in the horse. Young bulls may be castrated by twisting or scraping 

 the cord in the above-described manner. 



" Bistournage," i. e. torsion of the spermatic cord within the 

 scrotum, is also worthy of notice. When successful it is followed by 

 atrophy of the testicle. 



It has chiefly been practised on bulls, rams, and goats, but in a few 

 cases also on stallions. 



The operation may be divided into four stages. The operator first 

 endeavours to loosen the connection between the dartos and the under- 

 lying tunics (common vaginal sheath) by forcibly thrusting the testicles 

 upwards and downwards. For this purpose he first grasps the scrotum 

 above the testicles with both hands and rapidly thrusts the testicles 

 towards the base of the scrotum, where he fixes them by means of the 

 right hand. With the left hand he then grasps the lower part of the 

 scrotum and pulls it vigorously to and fro. Next, he takes hold of the 

 scrotum with the right hand immediately above the left, and in this 

 way pushes the testicles towards the inguinal canal. The testicles are 

 again pulled backwards and the above-described manipulation repeated 

 until the testicles can be freely moved in all directions (Fig. 246). 

 During this manipulation the rupture of the connection between the 

 skin and underlying tunics can be distinctly felt. In the second stage 

 one testicle is forced to the base of the scrotum and fixed in this 

 position with the fingers of the left hand, which grasp the spermatic 

 cord close above the gland (Fig. 247). The lowest part of the scrotum 

 is held with the right hand, which next co-operates with the left, im- 

 pressing the upper end of the testicle downwards and forwards and the 

 lower end upwards and backwards, thus rotating the testicle at an 

 acute angle to the spermatic cord. The testicle is prevented from re- 

 turning to its normal position by the left hand grasping the scrotum 



