248 DADD'3 VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGEKY. 



"We, however, take this opportunity of noting that cases have 

 occurred when the tunica vaginalis was divided no testicle fol- 

 lowed, firm adhesions between this tunic and the tunica albuginea 

 having retained it fast. In such cases the scalpel must be em- 

 ployed to free the testicle, by dissecting it away from the vaginal 

 Kic. When no such obstruction occurs, the testicle, if the opening 

 be sufficiently large, will slip out; but the operator nmst be pre- 

 pared, at the moment of so doing, to expect some violent struggles, 

 more particularly if he attempt to restrain the contractions of the 

 creraaster, and, by main force, to draw out the testicle. Prepara- 

 tory to this, therefore, the twitch should be tightened ; the attend- 

 ants, especially the man at the head, must be on the alert ; and 

 the testicle itself, at the time of this violent retraction of the cre- 

 master, should be merely held, but not dragged in opposition to 

 the contraction. If the clams have been put on over the whole, 

 according to Mr. Percivall's method, they will assist in retaining 

 the retracting parts ; but they must not be used with too much 

 pressure. The resistance having subsided, the clams must now 

 be removed ; or, if they have not been previf asly in use, they 

 must now be taken in hand, and, having been prepared by some 

 tow being wound around them, should be placed easily on the cord, 

 while time is found to free from the grip of the pincers the vas def- 

 erens, or spermatic tube, which is seen continued from the epididy- 

 mis. The Russians, Mr. Goodwin informs us, cut it through wheD 

 they operate. Humanity is much concerned in its removal fi-orti 

 pressure, because of the excess of ]^ain felt when it is included. 



It is necessary, before the final fixing of the clams, to deter- 

 mine on the part where the division of the cord is to take placr. 

 To use Mr. Percivall's words, ' if it be left too long, it is apt to 

 bans: out of the wound afterward, and retard the process of union.' 

 On the other hand, if it be cut very short, and the arteries hap- 

 pen to bleed afresh after it has been released from the clams, the 

 operator will find it no easy task to recover it. The natural 

 length of the cord, which will mainly depend on the degree of 

 the descent of the gland, will be our best guide in this particuLr. 

 The place <)f section determined on and marked, close tlie clama 

 sufficiently tight to retain firm hold of the cord, and to etfcctually 

 stop the circulation within it. There are now two n)odes of 

 making the division : the one is to sever it witli a scalpel, and then 

 to sufficiently sear the end of it as to prevetit a flow of blood ; the 



