246 DADD'S VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



CO remove the testicle, being very careful to avoid injuring any 

 portion of intestine in the operation. When a discovery is made 

 cf the existence of hernia after an opening has been already made 

 for the common purpose of castration, should the operator con- 

 tinue his process, and castrate ? We should say, By no means ; 

 but, on the contrary, we would greatly prefer the method recom- 

 mended by Mr. Percivall : firmly to unite the lips of the external 

 wound by suture, allowing the testicle itself to assist in blocking 

 up the passage, with a hope, also, that the inflammation caused by 

 the incision might altogether stop up the scrotal communication 

 with the abdomen. But, in the appalling case of immense pro- 

 trusion of intestine, what is to be done? Mr. Coleman, in such 

 a case, proposes to make an opening near the umbilicus large 

 enough to introduce the hand, and thus draw in the bowels. Mr. 

 Percivall would prefer dilating the external ring. But the testicle 

 must be very firmly retained, and even permanently fixed against 

 the dilated ring, or the bowels would again descend. The intes- 

 tines probably would become inflated in any such case. 



As unbroken young horses are the most usual subjects of this 

 operation, and as such often have not yet been bridled, if a colt 

 can not be enticed with oats, etc., he must be driven into a corner, 

 between two steady horses, where, if a halter can not be put on, at 

 least a running hempen noose can be got round his neck ; but which- 

 ever is used, it should be flat, or the struggles, which are often long 

 and violent, may bruise the neck, and produce abscess or injury. 

 When his exertions have tired him, he may then be led to the 

 operating spot. Here his attention should be engaged while the 

 hobbles are put on, if possible ; if not, a long and strong cart-rope, 

 having its middle portion formed into a noose sufficiently large to 

 take in the head and neck, is to be slipped on, with the knotted 

 part applied to the counter or breast. The long pendent ends are 

 passed backward between the fore-legs; then carried round the 

 hind fetlocks, brought forward again on the outside, run under 

 tne collar-rope ; a second time carried backward on the outer side 

 of all, and extended to the full length in a direct line behind the 

 animal. Thus fettered, Mr. Percivall says his hind feet may be 

 drawn under him toward the elbows. It has been, however, often 

 found that, at the moment the rope touches the legs, the colt either 

 kicks and displaces the rope, or altogether displaces himself; but 

 bis attention can generally be engaged by one fore-leg being held 



