SURGICAL OPERATIONS. 247 



u]). or by having his ear or muzzle rubbed, or even by the twitch ; 

 if not, the rope may be carried actually round each fetlock, which 

 (hen acts like a hobble, and this rope may be gradually tight- 

 ened. This last, however, is a very questionable method, and the 

 others, therefore, ought to be long tried before it is resorted to. 

 In this way people have succeeded with very refractory colts; but 

 it requires very able assistants, and, if possible, the man who has 

 been used to the individual colt should be present. In either way, 

 as soon as the rope is fixed, with a man at each end of it, behind 

 the colt, let them, by a sudden and forcible effort in concert, ap- 

 proximate his hind legs to his fore, and thus throw him. Before 

 the colt is cast, however, it should be endeavored to ascertain that 

 he is free from strangles and hernia. 



Being satisfied that no hernia exists on either side, proceed to 

 cast the colt, turning him, not directly on the left side, but prin- 

 cipally inclining that way ; and, if possible, let the croup be very 

 slightly elevated. It is usual to place him directly flat on the left 

 side, but the above is more convenient. Next, secure the near 

 hind leg with a piece of hempen tackle, having a running noose ; 

 or, in default of this not being at hand, make use of the flat part 

 of a hempen halter, which should, for safety, be put on before the 

 hobble of that leg is removed — as may be readily done, if the 

 hobbles having shifting or screw D's (as described in casting) are 

 made use of. Every requisite being at hand, the operator, having 

 his scalpel ready, should place himself behind the horse, as the 

 most convenient way to perform his manipulations ; and, firmly 

 grasping the left testicle with his left hand, and drawing it out so 

 as to render the scrotum tense, he should make an incision length- 

 wavy, from the anterior to the posterior part of the bag. The 

 resistance of the cremaster muscle has to be overcome before the 

 testicle can be forced to the bottom of the scrotum, and this is the 

 more readily accomplished if the animal's attention be engage 1. 

 The incision may be carried at once through the integuments, the 

 thin dartos expansion, and the vaginal coat of the testicles with 

 a sweep of the scalpel; but with one less dextrous at the opera- 

 tion, it will be more prudent to make the first incision through 

 the scrotum and dartos only, to the required extent, and then to 

 do the same by the vaginal coat, thus avoiding to wound the tes- 

 ticle which would produce violent resistance, and give unneoes- 

 Bary pain. 



