16 SPRING-TIME SURGERY 



point at which the second operator would make 

 his incision. 



The incision over the external ring is therefore 

 more direct and the resulting wound less exten- 

 sive, in which respect it is more conservative and 

 preferable. The scrotal incision has the impor- 

 tant advantage over the inguinal, in that the in- 

 evitable movements of the thigh after the opera- 

 tion disurb the cutaneous wound over the inguinal 

 ring, but do not seriously involve the scrotal 

 wound. We prefer the scrotal incision. 



Inguinal Cryptorchidism. — Having reached 

 the loose areolar tissue in the external abdomi- 

 nal ring, whether indirectly through a scrotal in- 

 cision or directly through an inguinal wound, the 

 operator, with his fingers in the form of a cone, 

 and by means of a rotary motion, pushes the 

 areolar tissues aside and cautiously advances his 

 hand upwards, outwards and slightly forwards 

 toward the internal inguinal ring, or the position 

 which it should occupy. Care should be taken to 

 note here the presence or absence of a dis- 

 tinguishable gubernaculum testis, of the epididy- 

 mis or of the testicle itself. 



