232 OPERATI\'E TECHNIQUE. 



The removal of the testicle is indeed scarcely necessary, it being 

 sufficient to remove it from its original position. An}' protruding bowel 

 is returned, and the wound in the abdominal wall united with closely 

 placed stitches. The bird is placed alone in a dry run, and is given 

 soft food and clean water. Recovery is complete in about eight days. 



Complications during Castration of Male Animals. 



1. Adhesion of the Testicle to the Tunica Vaginalis 

 Reflexa. — This condition is only of importance in the operation with 

 exposure of the testicle, and the adhesion may often be simply broken 

 down by means of the thumb or round-pointed scissors. Where it is 

 more extensive and firm, as shown by the fact that the testicle fails to 

 protrude after incision, although it may even have been incised, a 

 second incision may be made to one side of the testicle and enlarged 

 with button-pointed scissors until the testicle is freed. In the event of 

 this also failing, the tunica vaginaHs can be divided with scissors above 

 the testicle or epididymis, and the base of the tunic removed together 

 with the testicle. Should the adhesion extend to the spermatic cord, 

 castration must be completed by the covered method. Such adhesions 

 are said to be very common in Russia in consequence of the scrotum 

 being frozen. 



2. Prolapse of the Omentum. ^ — In horses and swine portions 

 of the omentum are not uncommonly found in the scrotum, although 

 large portions should be recognised on examining the scrotum prior to 

 operation. Smaller pieces may escape observation, however, and when 

 the tunica vaginalis is opened, often become greatly enlarged in a short 

 time, in consequence of the animal straining. The condition is seldom 

 dangerous. The operator waits until the straining ceases, gently draws 

 the piece of omentum forward, and, if it be limited, snips it off with 

 scissors. Should it contain important blood-vessels, these must be 

 ligatured with sterilised catgut or silk, cut through, and the remainder 

 of the omentum returned into the inguinal canal and thrust back into 

 the abdominal cavity. The omentum seems little prone to inflammatory 

 processes; danger of peritonitis is small. 



3. Prolapse of the Bowel. — Though prolapse of omentum is 

 seldom of particular importance, that of the bowel is very serious. In 

 order to avoid this complication, the scrotum and spermatic cord must 

 be very carefully examined before castration. A loop of bowel may, 

 however, pass into the inguinal canal during operation, or a portion 

 too small to be recognised with certainty by external manipulation 

 may have been present in the tunica vaginalis beforehand. Under such 

 circumstances, the prolapsed portion very rapidly increases in size 



