176 CASTRATION. 



ascertain the situation of the testicles; and whether 

 they have so thoroughly come down as to enable him 

 to grasp them firmly. It is not always that he can do 

 so. If the operator, however, anticipates difficulty in 

 retaining them in his grasp, let him pull them down 

 as low as he can, by steadily and gradually applying 

 force, but without violence. 



It will be, on the whole, more convenient for the 

 operator to begin with the left testicle first ; the man 

 at the head being on the alert, and the twitch having 

 been put on, the operator grasps the gland, pushing it 

 down to the bottom of the bag ; the testicle thus 

 making the scrotum tight and smooth over. Then 

 he, with one incision from before, backwards, and 

 along the whole extent of the scrotum, cuts through 

 the integument ; the dartos muscle ; and the tunica 

 vaginalis : when the testicle slips out. 



The operator must now shift his hand downwards, 

 and seize the testicle, holding it steadily ; not draw- 

 ing it out, but humouring the struggles of the ani- 

 mal ; while the man at the head is steady, and the 

 twitch is tightened. 



The struggles of the animal, which will probably 

 be great at this time, having somewhat ceased; the 

 operator draws the testicle down a little farther, and 

 places the clams upon the cord ; having wound a little 

 tow about them, that they may press more equally 

 and securely upon the cord, and perhaps deaden 

 pain, as well as prevent bleeding. The vas deferens 

 should be divided with the knife ; as by so doing the 

 colt will be saved much unnecessary pain. The point at 

 which the cord should be divided having been settled ; 



