CASTRATION OF CRYPTORCHID HORSES. 



145 



vaginalis, P, is outlined by a dotted line into which is in- 

 troduced a curved sound, S, along side of which lies the 

 gubernaculum, G. The gubernaculum, it will be observed 

 is divisible into three sections, a slender one, G, which by 

 passing along behind the peritoneum escapes from the 

 abdominal cavity at the postero-external commissure of the 

 ring to extend to the scrotum. The second portion of this 

 organ, G', is much thicker and extends from G to the 

 epididymis at E, while the third division, G", extends from 

 the epididymis to the testicle. 



In Plate XXII it is shown that the testicle under all ordi- 

 nary conditions is inevitably attached through its guber- 

 naculum testis to the postero-external commissure of the 

 ring and that it has a second definite attachment to the 

 seminal bladder through the medium of the vas deferens, V, 

 and a third by means of the testicular artery, A. The 

 gubernaculum and the vas deferens constitute the essential 

 guides in locating and recognizing the testicle. 



By forming a hollow cone with the fingers about the in- 

 ternal ring, the vas deferens, epididymis and gubernaculum 

 tend to drop out into the processus vaginalis where they 

 may be grasped with the fingers without the peritoneum 

 having been ruptured. The vas deferens and epididymis 

 present characteristics which are unmistakable to the 

 trained touch consisting of a small firm cord (vas deferens) 

 or a small mass of fine threads (tail of epididymis) which 

 roll freely between the thumb and finger and give a sensa- 

 tion which is unlike that produced by any other tissue in 

 the body. 



Grasp the part firmly and tearing through the peritoneum 

 seize the vas deferens and carefully draw it out through the 

 external wound. (In teaching cryptorchid castration to 

 the beginner we make our opening down to the internal 

 ring and grasp the vas deferens between the thumb and 

 finger without penetrating the peritioneal cavity and then 

 10 



