186 The Care of Animals 



A ridgling or cryptorchid is a colt or horse in which 

 one of the testicles remains in the abdominal cavity, 

 and does not descend into the scrotum at birth, as 

 is usually the case. In a few cases the missing testicle 

 can be felt in the inguinal canal, leading from the 

 abdominal cavity to the scrotum, where it can be se- 

 cured and removed in the ordinary way, but in most 

 eases the testicle is in the abdominal cavity and an 

 expert surgeon should be called upon to operate for 

 its removal. A ridgling has all the characteristics 

 of a stallion, and after the testicle that is down is 

 removed, can serve and impregnate mares, although 

 the service is not as sure as that of a perfect stallion. 

 In rare cases both testicles remain in the abdominal 

 cavity. 



Scrotal hernia is most frequentl}- met with in colts 

 and pigs. In operating, an incision is made through 

 the skin, but not through, the thin, white membrane 

 that covers the testicle. The hernia is then reduced 

 by working the intestine back into the abdominal cavity, 

 and a clamp is firmly fastened on the sack above the 

 testicles and they are removed. The clamps are left 

 on until the sack is grown together above; this holds the 

 hernia in place. In operating on colts or horses, a skilled 

 surgeon should be employed. While scrotal hernias are 

 rather common in young colts, most of the animals 

 outgrow the difficult}' before they are two years old. 

 In operating on pigs, the hernia is pushed back into 

 the cavity, the testicle removed and the sack firmly 

 sewed up by sewing "over and over," or the sack is 

 gathered together and firmly tied with a stout string. 



