5G2 OPERATIONS ON THE GENITO-UEINAKY APPARATUS. 



wound may be either closed by sutures, or, preferably, left without 

 interference, to obviate the possible danger of the formation of 

 future scrotal abscesses. 



In the pre-scrotal oj)eration, the hair is first clipped short, and 

 an incision made through a transverse fold of the skin, to expose 

 the penis. The concluding steps are the same as those in the 

 former case. 



It is, however, always advisable, when the animal is secured, 

 and before dividing the tissues, to insert the hand into the pre- 

 puce to draw out the organ. By thus straightening it and remov- 

 ing the S curvature, it is possible, and sometimes occurs, that 

 calculi are displaced and extracted without the necessity of resort- 

 ing to the knife. 



The urinary fistixlas which are among the sequelae of scrotal 

 urethrotomy, are of two or three weeks' duration, seldom continu- 

 ing longer. Care must be taken to protect the skin from the 

 irritation produced by the dripping of the urine through the 

 wound. 



Ischial Urethrotomy. 



This is the most common of the three operations, and is appli- 

 cable to all males. 



It is performed without casting, with the animal hobbled on 

 both hind legs and a twitch on his lip. (Fig. 470.) The decubi- 

 tal position is seldom required. The free use of cocaine has 

 enabled us to operate without any means of restraint, not only in 

 horses, but in camels, which are very awkward and uneasy animals 

 at the best, and esjoeciaUy when in the hands and under the knife 

 of the surgeon. The insertion of a catheter has been recom- 

 mended by many, to serve as a guide to the dissection of the 

 urethra, while others prefer the artificial dilatation of the canal 

 by the injection of water. In some cases, however, neither of 

 these expedients is necessary. The presence of the calculus and 

 the dilatation of the urethra above it, by the confined urine, 

 greatly assists in the location and puncture of the canal. 



The incision must be made on the main line, on a level with 

 the ischiatic arch. The structures to be divided are first, the 

 skin, then the subcutaneous cellular tissue, the aponeurotic layers, 

 and the accelator urinae; which being completed, a straight 

 puncture can be made in the urethra between the two suspen- 

 sory ligaments. The incision is then extended upward or down- 



