760 GENITO-UIUNARY ORGANS. 



cord downwards during the operation, for the testicular artery rup- 

 tures readily, and fatal abdominal haemorrhage may follow. 



As the subjects are apt to wallow in the litter after the opera- 

 tion a strip of iodoform gauze should be applied and secured by 

 one or two sutures. This is removed on the third or fourth day. 



On young pigs the operation is simpler. The animal is cast on 

 the left side and firmly held, the left hind limb being extended and 

 the right drawn towards the right shoulder. 



The testicles are grasped each in turn with the left hand, whilst 

 with the right they are exposed by a single sweep of the bistoury. 

 The testicles are removed by torsion with artery forceps. Many lay- 

 men simply use the hands, the cord being grasped between the left 

 thumb and index finger, whilst torsion is effected by the right index 

 finger thrust between the vas deferens and the body of the testicle. 



CASTRATION OF CRYPTORCHIDS. 



Cryptorchids are very rare amongst cattle and sheep, as the 

 testicles enter the scrotum during intra-uterine life. The internal 

 inguinal ring in the pig being of very small size, the condition 

 is more common in that animal. 



The same process is employed in castrating cryptorchid bulls, 

 rams, or boars. The animal is thrown on one side and securely 

 fixed. A vertical incision is made in the region of the flank, vary- 

 ing in length from 4 to 5 inches in the bull, 2 to 2J inches in 

 the ram, and 4 to 5 inches in the pig. The abdominal cavity is 

 examined, the testicle found, and a ligature applied to the cord, after 

 which the testicle is removed. 



Another method consists in employing the ecraseur for division 

 of the cord. 



To avoid subsequent complications antiseptic precautions should be 

 taken. 



Complications after Castration. — Whatever the method employed, 

 swelling of a more or less abundant character always develops during 

 the few days immediately succeeding the operation. It is, however, 

 of little importance. 



Should antiseptic precautions be neglected, suppuration, septi- 

 caemia, tetanus, and sometimes scirrhous cord may follow. 



FEMALE GENITAL ORGANS. 



Examination with the Speculum. — In the cow certain diseases 

 of the vagina, bladder, neck of the uterus, and even of the uterus 

 itself, may necessitate visual examination in addition to the manual 



