CASTRATION OF RIGS OR CRYPTORCHIDS 



185 



since it controls the entire body and deprives the horse of consciousness 

 and feeling. 



The animal is now placed on his back, and trusses of straw or bags of 

 saw-dust forced against his sides. 



To empty the rectum before the operation is also a desirable course to 

 pursue, and the tail should be tied up, and after the administration of 

 chloroform has taken place it may be carried forward out of the way and 

 tied to the collar. 



The instruments which will be needed are a castrating knife (fig. 516), 

 artery forceps, a pair of dressing forceps, a needle, strong silk, silkworm 

 gut, and an ecraseur (fig. 523). 



Before commencing the operation it will be necessary that these several 

 items be placed in a 5 -per- 

 cent solution of carbolic 

 acid for forty-eight hours, 

 otherwise they must be 

 thoroughly boiled and kept 

 in hot water until required. 

 Cotton -wool or sponges, 

 whichever may be used, 

 should be rendered sterile 

 by the same treatment. 



The hair in and about 

 the scrotum must be re- 

 moved by close clipping, and the site of the incision should be thoroughly 

 washed with warm antiseptic water and soap. After washing, the part 

 should be carefully soaked again and again with fresh antiseptic solution. 



This should be done by the operator, whose hands will at the same time 

 be undergoing disinfection. When complete, the part should be wiped 

 thoroughly dry, and then the hands and arms of the operator must be 

 washed and brushed with hot water and soap, and afterwards soaked for 

 five minutes in fresh carbolic solution. Special attention should be given 

 to the nails; in these cases they should always be cut short and be surgi- 

 cally clean. 



The same treatment must apply to the assistant and anyone who may 

 be told off to handle the instruments. 



The first step in the operation is to make an incision carefully through 

 the skin and the thin layer of elastic tissue beneath it, taking care to avoid 

 cutting into any of the vessels forming the rich plexus of veins which are 

 disseminated through the connective tissue beneath. This incision must 

 be about 5 inches in length over the site of the testicle. 



Fig. 528. Dressing Forceps and Artery Forceps 



