CASTRATION — COMPLICATIONS. 209 



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 vaginalis 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. 

 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 increased 

 in a short time, in consequence of the animal straining. The con- 

 dition 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. 



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 during operation, in consequence of the animal's struggles. 

 Prolapse is favoured by dragging on the spermatic cord, which dilates 

 the inner abdominal ring. It occurs oftenest in old stallions, either 

 during castration or after the animal has risen. Occasionally it 

 appears later, sometimes when the clams are removed. 



Immediately the bowel appears, however small may be the 

 portion, the animal should be placed on its back and the hind quarters 

 raised as high as possible. The greatest care should be taken to 

 prevent the bowel being soiled or injured. Whilst the animal is 

 being moved, the operator should firmly grasp the scrotum to prevent 

 the prolapse increasing, which, under some circumstances, it very 

 rapidly does. As soon as straining ceases, the bowel must be returned 

 through the inguinal canal into the abdominal cavity. Should this 



