188 CASTRATION BY LIGATION OF THE CORD. 



the resistance of the obstruction. Secondary haemorrhage, which is 

 rare, arises nearly always from infection of the stump. 



Another torsion method, though little practised, may be men- 

 tioned. It consists of the application to the covered cord of a 

 fixation clam or forceps, section of the cord by the knife about an 

 inch from the clam, and direct torsion of the testicular and cremas- 

 teric arteries by means of Assalini's or other artery forceps. 



<>. Ligation of the Spermatic Cord may be practised (1) by trans- 

 fixing the covered cord in front of the vas deferens with a needle 

 carrying a double thread and ligating separately the anterior and 

 posterior portions ; (2) by ligation of the entire cord ; (3) by first 

 dividing the nonvascular portion with scissors and then applying 



Fici. 235. — Bayer's forceps in use. Many operators prefer TogPs forceps, which 

 roll the cord together into a cylindrical mass (see text). 



a ligature to the anterior portion ; or (4) by immediate ligation of 

 the artery after incision of the serous membrane of the uncovered 

 cord. The ligatures — -aseptic twist, plaited silk, or chromic gut — 

 having been securely tied and their ends shortened, the cord is divided 

 within half an inch of the ligature. Ligation of the entire cord is 

 serviceable in the castration of bulls and the smaller animals, but 

 in the horse the first procedure, by ligating the cord in two portions, 

 is preferable. There is no danger of the ligatures slipping, bleeding 

 from the artery of the cord is prevented, and the cord being covered 

 there is little risk from post-operative hernia. 



Lafosse recommended simple ligation of the spermatic artery. 

 By stretching and flattening out the cord on the index finger of the 

 left hand, and feeling carefully with the thumb the artery may be 



