384 DISEASES OF THE INTESTINES. 



Operation for simple Scrotal Hernia. — Providing there be no sarcocele, 

 and the hernia be of the reducible kind, there will be no difBculty about the 

 operation. The horse being cast and turned upon his back, the operator 

 will seize the testicle with his left hand and draw it out as far as he can, 

 while with the right he makes every effort to push the hernial viscus 

 back, through the ring, taking care in so doing that he makes his com- 

 pression upon the sides of the tumour. Should there seem to be any 

 unusual obstacle, he may, by giving the testicle to an assistant, employ 

 both hands in the manipulation. The croup ought to be elevated, that ' 

 position being most favorable to the return of the hernia : indeed, when 

 the gravitation of the viscera is in this manner taken off, it not unfre- 

 quently happens that the gut slips up of itself. On one occasion, the 

 animal was no sooner turned upon his back than the hernial mass disap- 

 peared, drawing with it into the abdomen the testicle ; which latter the 

 operator sought afterwards in vain. The consequence was a necessity to 

 allow the animal to rise again and walk about in order to produce afresh 

 the hernia. This shows the expediency of seizing and retaining the tes- 

 ticle the moment the horse is cast. In some cases it will prove advan- 

 tageous to draw qj^ the scrotum, it being by compression apt to force the 

 hernia against the ring. We must not have recourse — if we can anywise 

 manage without it — to traction through the rectum, it being in this case 

 dangerous, and likely to aggravate the disease. Enveloping the tumour 

 in powdered ice, bleeding the patient to a large amount, and the tobacco 

 enema, are measures of great efficacy, and such as must be had recourse 

 to when minor ones fail of success. The hernia reduced, the operator 

 proceeds to the operation of castration, a, testicule convert. In this pro- 

 cedure M. Girard sagaciously warns us to take great care in cutting 

 through the scrotum and dartos, lest we open the hernial sac ; at the 

 same time to make the separation of the dartos from the sac as complete 

 and clean as possible, in order to give the utmost effect to the clams, 

 which ought to be fixed close to the ring. Before the clams be shut, 

 let the operator assure himself that no skin — above all, no portion of 

 intestine — be included within their gripe ; for the latter circumstance 

 did once happen to an experienced operator (M. Roupp), and gave rise 

 to violent colics, which could not be relieved but by casting the animal a 

 second time, and loosening and placing on afresh the clams. The testicle 

 had better be taken off at the time the clams are applied; the clams then 

 will be drawn up close to the belly, and may be left remaining on until 

 they spontaneously lose their hold. On some occasions curved clams 

 have been found preferable : their convexities being turned towards the 

 ring, the apposition and pressure become both more efficacious. 



Thickening of the Membranes will render the dissection of the dartos 

 from the sac both tedious and difficult ; and this may exist to that degree 



