218 CASTRATION OF CRYPTORCHIDS. 



requires to be thoroughly emptied and the search renewed. Should 

 the operator be in doubt as to the nature of the body found he may 

 compress it, when, in the event of its being the testicle, the horse 

 usually struggles. Degive passes the hand downwards along the 

 sides of the abdomen to the middle line. Frohner endeavours to 

 draw the testicle backwards towards the pelvic cavity, in order to 

 bring it into a better position for examination. Faecal pellets 

 sometimes mislead the operator, but may be distinguished from the 

 testicle by the fact that they are usually firm and rounded, and may 

 be broken down without causing pain, whilst the testicle is flat, 

 flabby, sharply marginated, very easily displaced, always retains 

 its shape, and is sensitive to pressure. Sand compares the feel of 

 the testicle to that of a small bag filled with mercury. The above 

 examination is only for the purpose of determining whether the 

 testicle is or is not retained, and is of no value for operative purposes, 

 inasmuch as the position of the gland is often entirely altered when 

 the animal is cast. Furthermore, it should not be deferred until 

 immediately before operating, as the soiling of the hands and 

 arms immensely increases the difficulty of properly disinfecting 

 them. 



The anatomical relations of the parts are very clearly shown in 

 the accompanying figures, redrawn from Cadiot's work. 



Frohner divides the methods of operation into two, the inguinal 

 and ventral. In the inguinal operation the incision is made 

 a little behind the outer abdominal ring, and extended by blunt 

 dissection towards the inner abdominal ring, in the neighbour- 

 hood of which the abdominal cavity is opened. In the ventral 

 operation laparotomy is performed either in the region of the 

 flank or through the lower wall of the abdomen. 



Cadiot recommends only castrating such rig horses as are dangerous 

 or difficult to handle, and in other cases abstaining from operation. 

 He considers the beginning of the fourth year the best period, as 

 the descent or partial descent of the testicle often occupies a long 

 time, and when the testicle is only partially developed the inguinal 

 operation proves difficult and sometimes dangerous. The operation 

 demands care and practice, but with antiseptic precautions loses 

 much of its danger, and is often of great service. 



The operation is easiest in horses which have been kept low for 

 some weeks and are in thin condition, because in them there is less fat 

 in the inguinal region. Some days before operation a dose of physic 

 is given to empty the bowel, and from that time the animal receives 

 only a limited amount of concentrated foool like oats, with a little 



