564 DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF GENERATION. 



subsequent application of a heated budding-iron to the 

 mouth of the spermatic artery, the same as French gelders 

 do, leaving untouched with the cautery every other part. 

 It is imagined, by not cauterizing the vaginal tunics, we 

 run less risk of peritoneal or dangerous inflammation after- 

 wards\ The testicle removed, and the hemorrhage stanched, 

 the clams may be dilated in that slow and cautious manner 

 which affords no risk of the end of the cord escaping, and yet 

 sufficiently mitigates compression, pro temporCy to ascertain if 

 the mouth of the artery be really sealed up : should it not, 

 a fresh heated iron had better be applied upon the bleeding 

 spot. In some cases, the artery, corrugated by repeated caute- 

 rizations, becomes so shrunk and embedded in the surrounding 

 substance that the cautery can no longer reach its naked 

 orifice : when this happens, it is best to cut with the cautery 

 or knife a slice off" the cord, whereby a fresh surface will be 

 obtained for renewed cauterization. As soon as all bleeding 

 has ceased, before liberating the end of the cord from the 

 clams, it is usual to sprinkle its seared surface with some 

 powdered resin, and to melt this with the cautery so as to 

 give it a sort of coating bf cement, the more effectually, it 

 is said, " to seal up the mouths of the blood-vessels." I 

 very much doubt, however, that it can have upon the already 

 constringed vessels any useful effect : indeeed, the practice 

 is apt rather to prove an additional source of irritation. 

 Done or not done, as pleases the operator, he is now gra- 

 dually and cautiously to dilate the clams, and admit of the 

 escape of the cord into the scrotum. By a similar proce- 

 dure, the other testicle is to be extracted. In the event of 

 either of the cords bleeding anew after the parts are re- 

 leased, bowlfuls or bucketfuls of very cold water may be 

 dashed upon the parts, and the animal still kept secured, and 

 quite quiet for some minutes : should it continue in spite of 

 remission, and appear to be arterial, it will be advisable — 



' If the iron be not at a white heat it adheres to the eschar, and detaches it, 

 so that the blood continues to flow ; and even when it is applied at the proper 

 heat, if it be allowed to remain too long, the same effect will follow. (Costello's 

 Paper on * Torsion.') 



