PRACTICAL CRYPTORCHID CASTRATION 47 



on the patient until the animal is again up and 

 in its stall should be as short as is consistent with 

 good surgical principles. The process of asepti- 

 cizing the operative field is one in which much 

 time can be saved by a study of the conditions. 

 Excessive scrubbing and cleansing is not only 

 without results of value but often productive of 

 conditions exactly opposite to those at the pro- 

 duction of which the process is aimed. Absolute 

 asepsis can not be obtained in veterinary practice 

 except at a great outlay of expense and trouble 

 that is not justifiable. In cryptorchid operations 

 relative asepsis is all that is needed for success- 

 ful work. Peritoneal infection and scrotal infec- 

 tion are the least of my fears when operating. A 

 good rule is to be as aseptic as the conditions 

 will allow without endangering your patient by a 

 prolonged, bunglesome technic (and without los- 

 ing money on the operation). 



The method that I follow in country work in 

 preparing the operative field requires from two to 

 five minutes, the length of time consumed depend- 

 ing on whether it is done by myself or by an as- 

 sistant while I am scrubbing my hand^. The 



